When Migraine Strikes: Get Armed with The Knowlege to Fight Back

Migraine often strikes without giving signs or warnings. For some patients, migraine is so chronic that they expect it everyday. If you get migraine, you know how debilitating it can get. You may feel like you may do anything to ease the pain! I know migraine can get really severe! For this reason, you need to be armed with the right knowledge and medications to abort the migraine attack or at least to alleviate the terrible pain. I have accumulated a number of quick and easy methods for immediate relief.

Drink plenty of water and breathe deeply: Migraine can be triggered by dehydration. When it is hot and sunny outside, you get vulnerable to migraines. So drink plenty of water. Usually when I get a migraine attack, I notice that my breathing is shallow and slow. That may contribute to making the migraine worse because lack of oxygen in the brain may cause migraines as well. What you have to do is relax and breathe deeply for about 5 to 10 minutes. Breathe in slowly until you reach your lungs’ capacity and hold your breath for about 5 to 10 seconds. Then breathe out slowly until you empty your lungs and hold your breath for about 5 to 10 seconds.

Triptans: Triptans constrict blood vessels and reduce nerve cells inflammation. They are supposed to halt the migraine attack immediately once it occurs. Triptans work better when you lie down and relax. You may take the second dose one hour after the first dose, but ask your doctor before you do it. If some brand does not work for you, try other brands since people have different responses to different medications. Examples of triptans include Imitrex, Maxalt, Amerge, Zomig, Axert, Frova, and relpax. A new drug, called Treximet, combines the triptan Imitrex (sumatriptan) and Aleve (naproxen sodium). It has promising test results, but triptans are not recommended for people with risk of heart attack or stroke.

Pain-relievers: Pain-relievers or pain-killers are used when triptans don’t work. Famous analgesics are Tylenol (acetaminophen), Aleve (naproxen sodium), and Motrin/ Advil (Ibuprofen). Some other drugs like Excedrin Migraine (acetaminophen, aspirin, and caffeine) work on some patients. Aspirin is another analgesics used, but it may cause gastrointestinal bleedings. Some people just use caffeine to alleviate their pain. They consume coffee or coke to keep up with their work, but be careful; some people are caffeine-sensitive. Please note that the overuse of over-the-counter (OTC) medications cause rebound headaches.

Lie down in a quiet and dark room: Once you feel a migraine is getting stronger, lie down in a dark and quiet room. The slightest noise may aggravate the pain, so I often close my ears with my finger or with some ear plugs in order to feel better. I try to empty my mind by not thinking about anything, and I breathe deeply and slowly for at least a few minutes.

Massage you head: massage your face, forehead, neck, and shoulders. At the rear bottom of your scalp (the occipital area), press on the cavity-like points between the ears and the neck with your thumbs. Press your thumbs toward each other and up for a minute or two then repeat a few times. This procedure releases endorphins that are the body’s own pain killers. If you feel exhausted, you may even get someone like a family member to do the massage for you.

Heat/ cold therapy: Sometimes I had a feeling that the cold weather triggered my migraine. While on other times, I felt like I couldn’t bear the hot weather, which triggered my migraine. So, you have to judge whether you need a heat or cold therapy. If you feel like your head is inflamed or irritated, you have to use an ice pack. Do not put ice directly on your head or skin, as this may hurt your skin cells or bones. Instead, use a rubber-made medical ice pack that you may get from the pharmacy. Apply to your head and neck to soothe away the pain. On the other hand, you may feel that you need a steam therapy or hot shower. If you are exhausted by migraine and feel you cannot take a shower, boil water in a container then put some towel on top of your head. Get your face to a comfortable distance from the container and inhale the hot air. Once you are done, try massaging your head to relax and calm down the pain more.