For many, medications like triptans and NSAIDs are effective ways to manage migraines. However, relying solely on medication can result in a medication-overuse headache (MOH), also called a rebound headache, which is triggered by frequent pain medication use. To treat MOH, it may be necessary to stop using migraine medications for an extended period of time.
For others, using medication to treat their migraines simply isn’t a viable solution, whether due to allergies or a substance abuse disorder. Developing coping methods for managing your migraines that aren’t medication-based can help you manage your symptoms during times when medication, for whatever reason, isn’t an option.
Know Your Triggers
The first step to managing your migraines is to know your triggers. If you’ve been suffering from migraines your whole life, you likely have some idea what causes your migraines, but if they’ve newly developed, it may take some time. If you’re struggling to identify your triggers, keeping a migraine diary could help you begin to recognize patterns, including your potential triggers and warning signs of an oncoming attack.
Once you’re aware of your triggers, it becomes easier to test methods for managing them.
Reduce Stress
For almost three-fourths of people suffering from migraines, stress is a trigger. In our daily lives, stress can come from a huge variety of sources, making managing it seem impossible. Paying attention to the signs of stress—physical (dizziness, sweating, fatigue) and emotional (anger, impulsiveness, anxiety)—can help identify the source.
Once identified, reduce the source of your stress if possible, or develop strategies to cope with it, like meditating, exercising, taking frequent breaks from work, and maintaining a consistent sleep schedule.
Maintain a Healthy Lifestyle
Your diet, hydration, and exercise habits can all influence your migraines. Certain foods and drinks can trigger migraines—common ones include chocolate, dairy products, cured meats, and caffeine, though some people have reported a small amount of caffeine actually helps control their migraine symptoms. If you suffer from migraines, eat small and balanced but frequent meals.
Dehydration is another common trigger. Keep a water bottle with you wherever you go and aim to drink enough fluid for your body weight. Using a hydration tracker app can help you monitor your intake throughout the day.
Not only is exercise a great way to manage stress, but research has also found moderate exercise can be helpful for preventing migraines. Working out causes your body to release endorphins, chemicals that naturally control pain, possibly reducing migraine symptoms. On the other hand, some people have reported exercise as another potential migraine trigger, though this is often because they aren’t properly stretching beforehand, are dehydrated, have low blood sugar, or are working out too strenuously and too fast.
Using Acupuncture to Manage Migraines
Research has been done on using acupuncture as a method of migraine relief. While a definitive consensus within the medical community has not yet been reached, many sufferers of migraines have reported a lessening of their symptoms after having been treated with acupuncture. When performed by a certified practitioner of acupuncture, there is little downside to trying it as a potential treatment for your migraines; as with many of the above methods for managing migraines, the success of the treatment can vary greatly from individual to individual.
To make an appointment and try acupuncture pain management for yourself, contact Crossroads Chiropractic today.
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