Migraine Prevention: An Ounce Is Better Than a Pound

An old proverb reminds us that an ounce of prevention is better than a pound of cure. Migraine prevention in the smallest measure is better than getting migraine headaches and having to seek a cure for them.

If you have ever experienced even one authentic migraine headache, with its throbbing, pounding pain and other discomforts, you will understand well why migraine prevention is a priority for regular sufferers. Migraines can halt vacations. They can ruin holidays. They can wreck daily life. Since we have no known migraine cures, that ounce of prevention can make the difference between normal or disrupted daily life.

Migraine Prevention Positives

The good news is that you have many options. You have a number of potential ways to avoid getting a migraine in the first place. You have migraine prevention positives:

* Learn your migraine triggers. Your migraine prevention plan starts here.
* Develop healthy eating habits and control your weight. Obese people are more likely to suffer from migraines.
* Establish a daily exercise routine of at least 30 minutes. Walk, jog, swim, or do aerobics.
* Learn relaxation techniques and use them daily. Take a shower and lie down in a dark room. Massage and relax the muscles of your neck and base of the skull.
* Get 8 hours of sleep nightly, going to bed and getting up at regular, set times. For example, go to bed precisely at 10:00 every night and get up at exactly 6:00 every morning.
* Stop once every hour to take 10 deep, full breaths. If stress hits during the day, stop and take an additional 10 deep breaths.

Migraine Prevention Negatives

Since migraines do have triggers, catalysts that get them rolling, you will want to use migraine prevention negatives, too. In addition to personal, specific migraine triggers you have already identified, you will want to avoid general triggers.

* Caffeine tops the list of things to be avoided. This is a known migraine trigger, but caffeine withdrawal can also cause sever headaches. If you consume too much caffeine, your migraine prevention can begin by gradually reducing the amount you have each day. Cut back slowly to avoid withdrawal symptoms.
* Smoking sits near the top of the list, too. Both first-hand smoke and second-hand smoke are triggers. If you are smoking, determination and action to quit should be part of your migraine prevention.
* Red wine, as well as processed meats and cheeses are also common triggers. Your ounce of migraine prevention should include crossing them off your list.

Migraine prevention can eliminate much pain and down time from your life.