Migraine Must Haves!

June is headache/migraine awareness month and so I want to be more on the ball about advocacy!

First off--what is migraine?

Migraine is a neurological disability/disease/disorder (tbh i still don't understand terminology here). Migraine is not just a headache but a whole body condition. Symptoms can include throbbing pain on one side of the head, nausea, vomiting, and sensitivity to light and sound. Acute phases of migraine attack can last for hours or even days--but beyond this-- pain and other symptoms can be daily for years.

What are some migraine triggers?

Migraine triggers can vary from person to person. Some common migraine triggers include:

• Stress

• Lack of sleep

• Certain foods

• Bright lights

• Strong smells

• Hormonal changes

• Weather changes

What can I do to prevent a migraine attack?

There is no surefire way to prevent a migraine, but there are some things you can do to reduce your risk or raise your trigger threshold. These include:

• Getting regular exercise

• Getting enough sleep

• Avoiding certain triggers altogether

• Managing stress

• Eating a healthy diet

• Staying hydrated

What can I do to treat a migraine?

If you suffer from migraine, there are a number of basic things you can have on hand to help you cope with your symptoms. These include:

• Ice pack/cap: An ice pack can help to reduce inflammation and pain.

• Dark sunglasses: Sunglasses can help to reduce glare and sensitivity to light. Choose sunglasses with 100% UV protection and polarization to protect your eyes.

• Water bottle: Staying hydrated is important for overall health, and it can also help to prevent a possible migraine attack. Drink plenty of water throughout the day.

• Relaxation techniques: Relaxation techniques, such as meditation or yoga, can help to reduce stress and anxiety, which can trigger or worsen a migraine attack.

• Biofeedback: Biofeedback is a technique that teaches you to control your body's functions, such as heart rate and blood pressure. Biofeedback can help to reduce stress and anxiety which often accompany living with migraine.

My top picks:

• I love lymphatic drainage for my migraine management. I do this through lots of self massage with gua sha and vagus nerve oil and, dry brushing, and scalp scraping. I have found this to help me with my overall inflammation and pain!

• A good pair of walking shoes is the most important thing ever! I'm a new balance girl for life. It's most important to be comfortable no matter what the event/dress code lol.

• Comfort/relaxation tools are very important for my migraine management. When a migraine attack comes there is really nothing I can do except sit through it and having things to help me do that is essential. I use massage/heat/compression tools the most.

• I have found that my body temperature regulation and exposure to heat/wind is a big trigger for me and so having a long sleeve shirt such as a cotton or linen button down is a really great option to carry around even in the summer that I can put on or take off to help regulate and prevent attacks.

• I recently started using patches (anxiety, sleep, energy, migraine) and have actually found them really useful! I appreciate having additional prescription drug free options to treat my attacks.

• A good pill organization system goes far when you are reliant on them :') I linked a few cute ones I saw on Urban Outfitters below!

If you suffer from migraine, it is important to have a plan and support system in place to manage your symptoms. If you are struggling to manage your migraine, talk to your doctor. There are a number of treatments available that can help to make your migraine less frequent and less severe--and don't give up hope!