Ways to Treat a Migraine

Migraines can stop people in their tracks, but one trick to lessening their severity -- or preventing them -- is being aware of your triggers and avoiding them.

A migraine is one of the most debilitating types of headaches, characterized by an intense pulsing or throbbing pain in one area of the head. The pain can be often accompanied by nausea, vomiting and extreme sensitivity to light and sound. Some individuals see an “aura,” which is a visual disturbance such as flashing lights, zig-zag lines or suffer temporary vision loss, before any other symptom. Triggers of migraine vary, from hormones to something in the environment. Knowing what sets off a a migraine in many cases can help a sufferer avoid or lessen the severity of an episode.

“Less than 50 percent of migraine sufferers ever get diagnosed and it is very important to know exactly what it is you’re dealing with,” Noah Rosen, MD, director of the Headache Center at North Shore-LIJ Health System’s Cushing Neuroscience Institute, said.

Some symptoms can mimic those of more serious conditions, such as stroke. Over-the-counter medications do not treat all migraine symptoms and do not work for every migraine. Medication should also not be overused, which can lead to a loss of effectiveness and potentially an increase in the frequency of the migraines themselves, Dr. Rosen said.

People who get migraines tend to have a family history of the ailment. Dr. Rosen cites a 70 percent chance that someone who gets migraines has a relative who does as well.

Lifestyle modifications can also help avoid migraines. Remembering to get enough sleep, eating regular meals, staying well hydrated and reducing stress can all help to reduce migraine frequency and severity.

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