How do I avoid migraines?
Migraines are a very common problem that plague thousands, if not millions of people every day. They are excruciating, and often debilitating. A new study suggests that migraines are a largely unrecognized cause of productivity in the workplace. [1] If you are a chronic sufferer of migraines, there are some tangible ways to help reduce your chance of developing one of these types of headaches.
*Exercise: Exercising is not only important for the overall health of your body, but it also helps keep hormones in balance, which is often a trigger for migraines.
*Stress: Some people are more hard-wired for stress than others. While this may be true, minimizing the amount of stress that you have in your life is an important factor in reducing your chance of creating an onset of a migraine.
*Allergens: Minimize exposure to things you know you are allergic to. Specific foods, pollens, sweet treats, pet dander, or other known allergens play a key role in migraine headaches.
*Regular sleep patterns: Having a regular sleep pattern is important, and disrupting your natural sleep pattern can serve as a factor in migraine development.
*Caffeine: Indulging in your favorite coffee drink in the morning can be a culprit to migraines. Limit your caffeine intake and see if this helps.
*Lights, lights, lights: Lighting is a huge issue in headache development. Exposure to extremely bright lights, as well as working in environments that do not have enough light can be harmful.
*Keep a headache diary: Keep a diary of when you get a migraine, what your symptoms are, and what you think the trigger was. This will help you see a pattern, if there is one, and will help you better describe your migraines to a doctor should you decide you need medical attention.
Migraines are some of the worst things you can experience. Following some of these steps will help ease your pain.
[1] Migraines Reduce Workplace Productivity. WebMd.com. Accessed on the Web November 29, 2009. http://www.webmd.com/migraines-headaches/news/20090911/migraines-reduce-workplace-productivity
[2] How to Avoid Getting Migraines. Ehow.com. Accessed on the Web November 29, 2009. http://www.ehow.com/how_7661_avoid-getting-migraines.html
