By Jessica Feagin | UAB Community Health & Human Services Intern

My oldest sister suffers from migraines often and on any day in which she experiences them, her whole day is impacted. She discovered that one issue causing migraines is eating cheese, so she rarely eats it. I love cheese, so I feel bad for her. Her experience with migraines made me want to look more into their triggers and how to deal with them.

A headache that causes a pulsing sensation or severe throbbing, typically on one side of the head, is a migraine. Pain from migraines can be so powerful that they can interfere with your daily routine and last from hours to days (Mayo Clinic, 2021). Stress is a common cause for migraines, and a way to deal with it is to figure out what causes unnecessary stress and work on soothing methods to prevent stress.

The American Migraine Foundation offers some tips to avoid migraines:

• Irregular Sleep – Try to get at least 8 hours of uninterrupted sleep
• Hormonal Changes – Lifestyle changes or even birth control can aid with balancing hormone levels
• Foods – Try to think about what you have eaten prior to a migraine and see if avoiding that food helps
• Caffeine & Alcohol – Know your limits and avoid drinking either in excess
• Dehydration – When you feel the onset of a migraine, try drinking at least 8-10 oz. of water
• Light & Smell – If you frequently get migraines after going to certain places, try changing the lighting or air fresheners
• Medication – If you find that after starting a new medication you are having migraines, talk to your doctor about alternative options

One way to prevent migraines is try to keep up with a diary or tracking plan to document what you are doing and eating before and when your migraine starts. Migraines can cause so much discomfort. I dislike when I have a typical headache, so I can’t imagine what someone goes through who experiences migraines often. On a positive note, it is helpful that there are ways that people can prevent migraines. Do you experience migraines? If so, what are your triggers and coping measures? Share your experiences with us here and join the discussion on Facebook here.

References:

Migraine – Symptoms and causes. (2021, July 2). Mayo Clinic. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/migraine-headache/symptoms-causes/syc-20360201

American Migraine Foundation. (2017, July 27). Top 10 Migraine Triggers and How to Deal with Them | AMF. https://americanmigrainefoundation.org/resource-library/top-10-migraine-triggers/