Migraine Treatments: Finding Relief from Debilitating Headaches
More than just a headache, migraines are a complicated neurological disorder that can cause problems in daily living. Accompanied by agonising, pulsating pain, nausea, and extreme sensitivity to light and sound, migraines can render their victims out of action for hours or even days. The UK is home to around 8 million migraine sufferers, with women being up to three times more likely to be diagnosed than men.
Early treatment and lifestyle changes are essential in the proper treatment of migraines. Whether you have them occasionally or frequently, they pop up; knowing what causes them and how to treat them is key to finding relief.
What Triggers a Migraine?
Migraines arise from the overactivity of nerve cells that trigger the trigeminal nerve, a major pain pathway in the brain. This, in turn, prompts the release of chemicals such as serotonin and calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) that make blood vessels expand and subsequently cause inflammation and pain.
Common Triggers
Although the cause is different for everyone, here are a few of the most common triggers of migraines:
- Stress and anxiety
- Hormonal changes (such as menstrual cycles or menopause)
- Certain foods (including chocolate, coffee, aged cheese, and alcohol)
- Poor sleep or lack of sleep
- Stressful events (so stressful that they leave you feeling weak, sweating, nauseated, or needing to stay in bed, etc.)
- Environmental stressors (bright lights, strong smells, weather changes)
Identifying and avoiding these triggers can mean the difference between several migraines a month and fewer than one a month!
Treatment Options for Migraine Relief
Acute Treatments (Symptom Relief Once the Migraine Has Started)
For those moments when a migraine hits, rapid-acting treatments can help alleviate pain and sometimes other symptoms such as sensitivity to light and noise, nausea, and the misery of just living through the episode:
- Painkillers: Over-the-counter drugs such as ibuprofen, aspirin, and paracetamol can help with mild migraines. However, frequent use can result in medication-overuse headaches.
- Triptans: These prescription medications, including sumatriptan and rizatriptan, increase serotonin activity in your brain, which can help reduce inflammation and narrow blood vessels.
- Anti-sickness drugs: Metoclopramide or domperidone can reduce nausea and enhance the absorption of painkillers.
Preventative Treatments (To Decrease the Frequency of Migraines and Avoid Severe Attacks)
If you have migraines regularly (more than four times a month), the following preventatives might be advised:
- Beta-blockers (such as propranolol): Can reduce blood vessel dilation.
- Antidepressants (such as amitriptyline): Work on serotonin levels to help prevent migraines.
- Anticonvulsants (such as topiramate): Act to normalise nerve activity.
- CGRP inhibitors (for example, erenumab): Block a protein involved in migraine attacks.
- Botox injections: Approved for chronic migraines (15 or more headache days per month), injections of Botox can block pain signals.
Other Complementary Approaches
For those who wish to avoid drugs:
- Acupuncture: May decrease migraine frequency.
- Magnesium supplements: Migraines are associated with low magnesium levels.
- Biofeedback & relaxation techniques: Help control stress-induced triggers.
Lifestyle Changes for Long-Term Relief
1. Managing Triggers
Keeping a migraine diary can help identify patterns and eliminate stressors. Note down:
- Food and drink intake
- Sleep patterns
- Stress levels
- Weather changes
2. Healthy Habits
- Maintain a regular sleep schedule (7–9 hours per night).
- Stay hydrated (dehydration is a common trigger).
- Eat balanced meals and avoid skipping meals.
- Exercise regularly (yoga, swimming, or walking can reduce stress).
- Practise relaxation techniques (such as meditation and deep breathing).
When to See a Doctor
Though you may be able to treat the occasional migraine on your own, contact your doctor if you notice:
- Increased frequency or severity of headaches
- Sudden onset of severe pain, along with changes in vision, confusion, or fever
- Headaches after a head injury
Conclusion
Migraines are debilitating, but the right treatment plan and lifestyle changes can bring relief. From treating pain as it happens and preventing attacks to alternative therapies, solving the migraine puzzle is possible with the right approach.
If migraines are affecting your quality of life, don’t suffer in silence. Book an appointment with our experts at Chase Lodge Hospital to discuss your treatment and begin your journey to being migraine-free.
