What should you might ask a few of the nation’s high migraine medical doctors for recommendation on get management of your complications? We did!
First, Cease the Self-Blame
“Sufferers come to me and say, ‘Oh, I shouldn’t have had that tumbler of wine after I went out to dinner,’ or ‘I shouldn’t have stayed up so late.’ Lots of my migraine sufferers are sort A personalities who’re very profitable and overachievers. I inform them it’s OK to slide up each every now and then. You’ll be able to’t forestall your migraines 100%. Berating your self solely raises your stress ranges, and we all know stress is a high set off of migraine.”
Mary Ann Mays, MD
Drop the Further Kilos
“We’ve recognized for some time that people who find themselves overweight usually tend to get migraines. They’re additionally extra prone to have persistent migraine, which implies they get at the very least eight a month. One principle is that your additional fats cells produce inflammatory proteins that set off these complications. The excellent news is should you shed some pounds, analysis exhibits your migraines will enhance.”
Alan Rapoport, MD
Ditch the ‘Headache Food regimen’
“About 30% of migraine sufferers have at the very least one meals set off. However the record of meals that may doubtlessly trigger issues is overwhelming. Additionally, many of the details about meals triggers is anecdotal, not primarily based on research. That’s why I don’t suggest that my sufferers go on a particular ‘headache’ food plan or keep away from sure meals. Why drive them to keep away from issues they take pleasure in, when they might not even be a set off within the first place? As an alternative, on the times they get a headache, I’ve them assume again to what they’ve eaten over the previous 24 hours. If any of the meals are on the set off record, they’ll keep away from them for a few weeks to see if that makes a distinction.”
Merle Diamond, MD
Get Therapy
“It sounds apparent, however it actually isn’t. Greater than half of all individuals who get migraines are by no means recognized. They’re at house, treating their complications with over-the-counter medicines. However that is dangerous. First, they’re dwelling with debilitating ache after they don’t must. Secondly, they find yourself taking over-the-counter ache relievers like ibuprofen or acetaminophen a number of occasions every week, which might result in what’s generally known as medicine overuse headache. This in itself turns into an enormous headache to cope with. Your main care doctor is an efficient begin, however should you can’t discover aid, see a headache specialist.”
Mary Ann Mays, MD
Contemplate Complementary Medication
“There are a number of dietary supplements I like to recommend to my sufferers. None are a panacea, however they’ll typically assist together with conventional prescription medicines. They embrace:
- Butterbur. The same old dose is 50-75 milligrams twice a day. I personally haven’t discovered it to be too efficient in my observe, though certainly one of my most difficult sufferers swears that she’s been cured by it
- Magnesium, 400 milligrams a day
- Melatonin, taken an hour or so earlier than bedtime to regularize sleep
- Co-enzyme Q10. Normally, 300 milligrams a day
- Vitamin B2. 400 milligrams a day
Normally, I begin with one for my sufferers, and in the event that they don’t reply, I add a second. And in the event that they nonetheless don’t reply however don’t have any unwanted effects, then I add a 3rd.”
Alan Rapoport, MD
Have a Headache Plan
“The higher it’s, the much less possible you’ll be to finish up within the ER. Lots of my sufferers want a three-prong technique. The primary prong is an acute medicine like a prescription triptan or ergot, to take as soon as you are feeling your headache approaching. Then there’s a rescue medicine, like a prescription-strength NSAID, which you’ll take if that first medicine didn’t work. Lastly, should you get greater than eight complications a month, you’ll most likely must be on a preventative medicine like a beta-blocker or CGRP antagonist. If, in spite of everything this, you’re nonetheless touchdown within the ER, otherwise you’re lacking work due to your complications, it is advisable see your headache specialist once more to provide you with a greater plan. “
Merle Diamond, MD
