There is no single best migraine headache relief, but there are many ways to treat these painful headaches. People benefit most by working with a medical expert to determine potential avoidable causes of migraines and then deciding which treatments are most likely to be effective. This can be highly individualized and people might have several “treatments” they employ to prevent or get rid of a migraine.
The first migraine headache relief concept is that of avoiding getting the headaches. One of the things many people notice about migraines is that they can be triggered by consumption of certain foods or exposure to some types of elements. Doctors often ask people with this condition to keep a diary of when headaches occur and the circumstances under which they occur to determine if there are clear triggers. For instance, if eating monosodium glutamate (MSG) appears to result in migraines, a simple preventative is to avoid its consumption. This is natural and sensible migraine headache relief.
When triggers aren’t obvious, another option for people is taking medications on a regular basis that help to prevent migraine incidence. It’s estimated that about 50% of people are assisted with this step. Medicines that qualify as before-the-fact migraine headache relief include some antidepressants, a few mood stabilizers that are also anti-seizure drugs, antihistamines like cyproheptadine and drugs typically used to reduce blood pressure or that work on the cardiovascular system in other ways, like calcium channel blockers and beta blockers. If people have frequent headaches, they might better benefit from drug treatments that stop migraines prior to occurrence.
Another way to get migraine headache relief is to use medications when a headache starts. Some people benefit from opioids like hydrocodone (Vicodin®). Such medicines are less preferred than triptans, which are thought perhaps the most effective for many people. These tend to combat all headache symptoms including nausea, pain and sensitivity to light. When triptans are ineffective, people could try other medications such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), medicines with high levels of caffeine, or drugs that only combat the nausea that accompanies headaches, such as Compazine®.
For those who would rather find natural migraine headache relief, there are some suggestions. First, preventative steps, like avoiding triggers, are still advisable. People should also plan to get plenty of exercise on a weekly basis, whether or not they use natural or traditional treatments, as this may be of use. Some feel that headaches are cured with massage or acupuncture, and there are a variety of supplements or herbal and homeopathic remedies that folks could try too.
No matter how people approach this, they benefit from supportive care from traditional medical or alternative medical experts. Finding the best plan for each individual is not only important, but relatively urgent. Swiftly finding migraine headache relief prevents folks from having to experience more pain than is necessary. Even with this goal, it can take some time to find the most effective care for each individual.
