Research has revealed that around 13% of the US population suffers from migraines. They can cause symptoms such as pain, nausea and dizziness, which can be disruptive. The sad reality is that they can occur at any time throughout the day, leading to a disruption in your plans. If you are looking for a way to prevent a migraine before it happens, you are in the right place. Here are some of the ways to prevent attacks:
Look into your diet
For starters, you can fight migraines by eating better. Well, ensure you eat natural, whole foods such as proteins and veggies and minimize your intake of processed foods. Avoid sugar, caffeine, and carbohydrates as much as you can, and check the ingredients before consuming any food.
Taking supplements can also prevent migraines before it happens. Yes, you can use natural supplements such as magnesium, riboflavin, and melatonin to reduce the frequency of attacks and prevent them from happening. That said, before taking supplements, ensure you get the green light from your doctor.
Drinking plenty of water also helps reduce chances of headaches. In fact, when you are dehydrated, the perception of pain in the brain increases exponentially. You should try to drink at least eight glasses of water each day. Try to supplement water intake and food rich in water.
Beware & Prepare for the Weather
Weather can also be a known contributing factor to attacks. Remember, migraines tend to attack when you are in sunny places and areas with high humidity. So, protect yourself by wearing long-sleeved shirts or a hat with a wide rim if you know you will be running errands on a hot day. Listen to your body and know when to go back indoors under the shade.
Tip: If the weather is a common trigger, consider talking to your doctor about prescribing preventive medicines that will help ease your pain and prevent them from occurring.
Exercise, Sleep Better & Manage Stress Levels
You ought to also add physical exercises to your routine. But, keep in mind that strenuous exercises can also trigger attacks. So, start off with less intense physical activity such as light aerobics or swimming that do not put too much strain on your body. Also, you should try to sleep better. You might have noticed that depriving your brain of much-needed sleep leads to frequent and lengthy attacks. As a rule of thumb, ensure you get at least eight hours of sleep each day.
Coping with other stressful situations is also vital if you want to live a healthy life and minimize occurrences. Try stress management techniques such as yoga, meditation, and walking to help calm your nerves and prevent the onset of an attack.
Tip: Ensure you eat, sleep and wake up at around the same time each day so that your brain becomes accustomed to your schedule. In other words, your brain should know what is coming next. This way, you will avoid stressing your body.
Wrapping up
Being aware of what triggers your migraines can lessen the frequency and duration of your attacks. You will be better positioned to change the factors you can control and reduce your exposure to triggers you cannot avoid.