We are independent & ad-supported. We may earn a commission for purchases made through our links.
Advertiser Disclosure
Our website is an independent, advertising-supported platform. We provide our content free of charge to our readers, and to keep it that way, we rely on revenue generated through advertisements and affiliate partnerships. This means that when you click on certain links on our site and make a purchase, we may earn a commission. Learn more.
How We Make Money
We sustain our operations through affiliate commissions and advertising. If you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase, we may receive a commission from the merchant at no additional cost to you. We also display advertisements on our website, which help generate revenue to support our work and keep our content free for readers. Our editorial team operates independently of our advertising and affiliate partnerships to ensure that our content remains unbiased and focused on providing you with the best information and recommendations based on thorough research and honest evaluations. To remain transparent, we’ve provided a list of our current affiliate partners here.
Medicine

Our Promise to you

Founded in 2002, our company has been a trusted resource for readers seeking informative and engaging content. Our dedication to quality remains unwavering—and will never change. We follow a strict editorial policy, ensuring that our content is authored by highly qualified professionals and edited by subject matter experts. This guarantees that everything we publish is objective, accurate, and trustworthy.

Over the years, we've refined our approach to cover a wide range of topics, providing readers with reliable and practical advice to enhance their knowledge and skills. That's why millions of readers turn to us each year. Join us in celebrating the joy of learning, guided by standards you can trust.

What are the Best Ways to Treat a Chronic Migraine Headache?

By Steve R.
Updated: May 17, 2024
Views: 2,323
Share

Annually, more than 29 million people suffer from a chronic migraine headache. Affecting more females than males, a chronic migraine headache typically results in severe pain that can last for hours or days. While there is no cure for migraines, there are a variety of ways to treat the nuisance. Treatment generally seeks to alleviate discomfort and further episodes. Chronic migraine headache is often treated with medications, relaxation exercises, and alternative medicine.

Drugs to treat chronic migraine headache typically fall into two areas, acute and preventive. Acute, sometimes known as abortive, refers to medication taken once symptoms appear in order to decrease pain symptoms once they appear. Preventive treatment entails taking medication to alleviate the harshness of future episodes.

Triptans are common acute medications taken for migraines. This type of medication, which comes in the form of tablets, nasal sprays, and shots, helps to alleviate the symptoms of pain, nausea, and susceptibility to bright lights and sounds connected with migraines. Triptans are able to raise the amount of serotonin in the brain. Serotonin, a neurotransmitter, allows blood vessels to narrow, which helps in alleviating pain.

Another acute medication that mixes with serotonin is ergot. This medication, in the form of nasal sprays and injections, works for a migraine sufferer whose symptoms last more than two days. Other acute medications include common over-the-counter medicine including aspirin, ibuprofen, and acetaminophen.

Preventive medicines are often used for other treatment, but can be effective in helping against migraines. An effective preventive medicine is beta blockers, which are often used for treating high blood pressure and heart disease. Antidepressant medication also is a preventive medicine to fight migraines. A person does not need to suffer from depression to use antidepressants, which raise the levels of serotonin and other chemicals in the brain.

A chronic migraine headache sufferer can also treat the condition with relaxation, which a person can do fairly quickly. Relaxation treatment includes resting or napping in a quiet and dark location. Putting a damp wash cloth or ice pack on the head or neck and consuming lots of fluid are also effective relaxation techniques.

Alternative therapies may also be ways of treating a chronic migraine headache. During acupuncture, a migraine sufferer allows a skilled practitioner to place slim needles into the skin. Massages alleviate the regularity of migraines and also allow an individual to get a better night’s sleep. Certain herbs, such as feverfew and butterbur, are capable of alleviating the severity of migraines and their symptoms.

Share
WiseGeek is dedicated to providing accurate and trustworthy information. We carefully select reputable sources and employ a rigorous fact-checking process to maintain the highest standards. To learn more about our commitment to accuracy, read our editorial process.

Editors' Picks

Discussion Comments
Share
https://www.wisegeek.net/what-are-the-best-ways-to-treat-a-chronic-migraine-headache.htm
Copy this link
WiseGeek, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.

WiseGeek, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.