Most of us get headaches from time to time. They are always painful. However, migrane headaches are much worse.
In fact, some people are unable to function when they have a migraine and need to confine themselves to a dark room until it passes.
If you're unsure whether the headache you are experiencing at any given time is a migraine, you should know that migraines are often accompanied by nausea, sometimes to the degree that it causes vomiting.
Oftentimes, migraine sufferers are sensitives to sound or light. They often describe the pain in their head as coming from a distinct location such as behind the eyes or in the base of the skull. They often say they experience a throbbing sensation.
If you feel you have gotten one or more migraines, be alert to what was going on right before you got it, and write down those circumstances in order to track what may cause migraines for you so that you can be sure to avoid your own personal migraine triggers.
Thirty million Americans report getting migraines on a regular basis. Of those, here are the most common behaviors that bring-on their migraines. You may consider avoiding them yourself in an effort to lessen your chance of getting a migraine.
First, there are certain foods and drinks that trigger migraines in many people such as caffeine, chocolate, MSG, artificial sweeteners, nitrates tyramine and alcohol.
And speaking of food, irregular eating patterns sometimes trigger migraines, especially skipping meals. So try not to go for more than three hours without eating something, even if it's just a nibble.
Sometimes smells can trigger a migraine, especially the smell of smoke. Some perfumes are objectionable to migraine sufferers and even some cleaning products, too.
Sleep disturbances are also migraine triggers. This includes not getting enough sleep. Make every effort to get your eight hours (or more!) to avoid migraines and avoid lots of other health problems, too, I might add.
In addition to getting enough sleep, many migraines are brought-on by changes in sleep patterns. In other words, varying the time that you go to bed each night and wake-up each morning can trigger a migraine. Try to keep your sleep schedule the same every day of the week, even the weekends.
Finally, and this is a tough one, anxiety is a common trigger for migraines. This is no surprise, considering it also is a key factor in triggering "regular" headaches.
So if you can learn to manage stress, you will reduce the likelihood of getting a migraine. Like getting enough sleep, reducing stress has many health benefits, not the least of which is reducing your risk of heart disease and cancer. There are many ways to reduce stress such as exercise, prayer, deep-breathing techniques and volunteering at church.
If you think you have a problem with migraines, see your doctor. There are prescription medications available to treat migraines. But be careful, some of them can be habit-forming.