How to ease migraine pain: tips for mums
Migraines are intense kinds of headaches typically identified by a throbbing pain mainly on one side of the head. They are commonly characterized by dizziness, nausea, and sensitivity to light or sound. As a mum, this could come in the way of taking care of your kids or juggling your parental duties and work. Luckily, there are ways to prevent migraine attacks and ease the pain when you get one. Here are some tips to ease those frustrating migraine pains getting in your peace of mind as a mum.
Be prepared
For starters, you should speak to a qualified headache specialist if you have frequent migraine issues. A qualified specialist will prescribe the right medication that will help ease the pain before it escalates. The severity of a migraine attack can be reduced if you take your medicine as soon as you notice the first symptoms. That is why having medication on hand will help avoid the debilitating effects of a more intense migraine episode.
Try to always have a migraine kit that contains all the basic items you could need in the event of a migraine. You could have them in your car or your purse. It is also best to try and keep your kids busy whenever you have a migraine. You could have them engage in puzzles, craft kits and the likes that will keep them busy as you take a little rest.
As for meals, always have quick on-the-go recipes that you can reach out for on migraine days. This way, your kids remain nourished even on those miserable migraine days. It is also important to have a network of trusted people that you can call for help when the migraines become too severe and you need someone to take you to the emergency room or take or care of the kids.
Identify your triggers
Preventing a migraine attack is always better than trying to fight one. Identifying your triggers gives you a better chance of preventing attacks. Well, migraine triggers are different depending on many factors. They could be triggered by hormonal changes, stress, changes in sleep patterns, or even hunger. If you are not quite sure of what triggers your migraines, track your headaches in a diary for a few months. Writing down will be more effective than relying on your memory.
Keep a record of the activities going on in your life around the time of your migraines. Noting down all your migraines in your diary will help you in figuring out common patterns of when you get migraines. Once you identify your potential triggers, you can now try your best to avoid them. If it is a type of food that triggers your migraines, try to avoid it. If it is a lack of sleep, make a conscious effort of getting enough sleep. If it is hunger, try to always have a healthy snack in your bag when you leave the house. The bottom line is that you should try to steer away from those things that are likely to cause you migraines.
Use essential oils
For some people, strong scents are triggers for headaches. Ironically, the right kind of aroma can be a treatment for headaches. Essential oils are concentrated liquids containing extracts of various plants. They have been used in alternative health practices such as aromatherapy and naturopathy. Essential oils help relieve stress; which is one of the main triggers for migraines. Lavender essential oil is a good type that is majorly used for relaxation and stress relief. Many people swear by that scent in the management of migraine attacks. It is quite easy to try. You can simply apply diluted lavender oil to your skin. Alternatively, you can use an oil diffuser or add some of the oil to a warm bath to enjoy its benefits. Yes, after a long day of wrangling with kids, go treat yourself to a warm bath with lavender oil. It can help you relax and keep migraines at bay!
Dim the Lights
Light sensitivity is one of the most common migraine symptoms. In fact, many people tend to be more sensitive to light during a migraine attack. Light sensitivity symptoms can even linger for a few days after a migraine.
Research has found that bright lights even from your computer screen could cause migraine headaches. Specialists recommend that you use anti-glare screens to your computer if you are suffering from frequent migraines caused by sensitivity to light. You could also consider covering your windows with black-out curtains. When outdoors with the kids, try to always wear sunglasses to avoid the bright sunlight. In the event of an active migraine attack, you should take a rest in a dark to manage the intensity of pain.
Get a massage
Massage therapy is also very effective in reducing tension headaches and migraines. Professional therapeutic massage can decrease the intensity, duration, and frequency of migraine attacks. Therapeutic massage uses various mechanisms to relieve pain. Some of these mechanisms involve relaxing painful muscles, joints and tendons. Top quality massages also stimulate nerve fibres that imped pain messages to and from the brain. Massages have been reported to be instrumental in easing muscle tension in the jaw, neck, and shoulder areas. Muscle tension in these areas will typically cause migraines. Massages, especially, scalp massages can be helpful in reducing pain during a migraine. You could schedule an at-home massage to help you get back to your best.
Hydrate!
Generally, water is important for your overall health. It is even more important to be well-hydrated if you are prone to migraines. For some people, even a small hint of dehydration is enough to cause debilitating head pain. Dehydration has an effect on the body on many levels that can even be a medical emergency in severe cases!
To cope with this, always have a water bottle close to you at all times. It is also helpful to keep track of your fluid intake. Strive to ensure that your water intake is within the daily water recommendation.
Try yoga
Yoga promotes health and well-being using breathing, meditation, and body posture exercises Yoga is useful in improving vascular health, improving anxiety, and releasing tension in migraine trigger areas. It might not be the primary treatment for migraines, it for sure is beneficial as a complementary therapy.
Well, yoga might give you peace and calmness to your body and mind. That is why it is great for people suffering from pain, anxiety, and depression. It is one holistic approach not only for dealing with migraines as they are happening but also a proactive approach in managing the pain.
Final remarks
These are just but a few tips to help you ease migraine pain as a mom. Prevention is always better than managing pain. It is best to identify the triggers that might be causing the migraine. It is also good to speak to a headache specialist if the pain is affecting your normal routine as a mom.
