How to Cope with Chronic Migraines

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For those dealing with regular migraines, you know how painful—and even debilitating they can be. The sudden onset of a migraine throws a wrench in your day—making it feel impossible to overcome.

If you’re dealing with chronic migraines, don’t put off seeking help. Visit the pain management doctors Asheville NC at the Comprehensive Pain Consultants of the Carolinas. We can help to assess what triggers your migraines and how to manage them when they occur. Treatment plans often include lifestyle changes, mild medications or Botox injections.

 

Migraine Facts

Many people associate migraines with headaches, but head pain is only one symptom. Suffers can also experience nausea, vomiting, fatigue, sensitivity to light, dizziness and much more. Chronic migraines mean you are experiencing at least 15 headache days per month with over half being migraines. Here are just a few other known facts about migraines: 

  • Women are more likely to get migraines than men

  • Symptoms can include temporary blindness

  • Children also can get migraines

  • Migraines can last anywhere between 4 to 72 hours

Want to learn more about migraines? Check out our page about the condition and how our patients find relief right here.

While the cause of migraines varies from person to person, we have a few simple tips that can help anyone manage migraines successfully.

 

Find Calm

According to the American Migraine Foundation, stress is a trigger for almost 70% of people with migraines. While we can’t avoid the day-to-day stressors of life, you can set up a routine to keep your stress levels low. It’s beneficial to incorporate relaxation techniques, exercise, taking breaks and other positive actions that lead to lower stress in your everyday life. 

When a migraine occurs, seek a calming environment—usually a dark room where you can lay down is best. Cold or hot compresses around your head or neck can also provide relief.

 

Regulate Sleep

The relationship between migraines and sleep is complex. Lack of sleep as well as too much sleep has been known to trigger migraines in patients. It’s important to establish a regular sleep schedule that works for you and stick to it. Try going to bed and waking up at the same time every day—even on weekends and days off of work.

  

Eat well & hydrate

A big portion of a healthy lifestyle is eating right and staying hydrated. Managing migraine pain is no acceptation. Here are a few basic practices to keep in mind: 

  • Limit processed foods

  • Don’t skip meals

  • Cut down on caffeine and alcohol

  • Always keep a water bottle near by

 

Keep track

One helpful way to bring awareness to your migraine triggers is to keep a diary. Write down when you feel a migraine come on, what you are doing when it happens and how long they last. Take this one step further by documenting what treatments provide relief and which don’t. The more you understand why migraines happen in the first place, the better you can prepare yourself.

 

Pain Management Near Asheville NC

With an accurate diagnosis, we can help you begin your journey to relieving migraine pain once and for all. Our Asheville pain management professionals are here to help you find long-term, sustainable relief. Don’t let your chronic migraines go untreated, give us a call today!

 

Get in touch with us by calling 828-483-4438

  

Disclaimer: You should always seek the advice of a physician or other qualified health care provider before beginning any exercise program. The information contained in this article does not constitute medical advice, nor does reading or accessing this information create a patient-provider relationship.  Comments that you post will be shared with all visitors to this page. All comments are not governed by HIPAA and you should not post any private health information.