In this blog, we are discussing “5 Healthy Habits to Feel Better with Less Migraine Medication.” Whether you’re getting migraines two days a month or as many as 15 or more a month, you are probably taking migraine medications to knock out the pain. Many doctors also prescribe preventative drugs for patients who are suffering from a lot of migraines per month, but as you probably know, they are not perfect, and can be costly. Then, over a long period of time, we get discouraged when that preventative drug stops doing its job. I have been on both ends of the spectrum – living with migraines with preventatives and lots of pain meds. and then no preventatives and very little in the way of pain meds.
While preventative migraine medication can help – for awhile – in the long- run, I have found that healthy habits can help prevent migraines and even minimize their impact on our lives. These methods have been extremely effective for me – and with the added benefit that there are no side effects and they are a lot less expensive.
These healthy habits don’t stop migraines forever for everyone, yet when used consistently, they result in steady progress for almost everyone who practices them. What do you have to lose by incorporating some of these healthy, natural methods into your daily life? See how they work with what you are already doing, and maybe you will be able to decrease your use of medication as you see improvement.
Here are 5 ways you can incorporate some healthy habits into your daily routine:
1. Boost Hydration – As I often say, increasing your fluid intake each day is very important. Most migraineurs have no idea how susceptible they are to dehydration, and all the things that cause it. Increasing your fluid intake (especially with water) will help tremendously.
2. Value Your Sleep – Quality and quantity do matter. Also consistency in our sleep/wake cycle is important. You should have a consistent pre-bed ritual to trigger your body’s responses to learn that these rituals mean it is time for sleep. Avoid anything that will disrupt a good night’s sleep, which includes not using electronic devices for about two hours prior to sleep, to maximize sleep routines. Also try having the same bedtime and wake time each night – even on the weekend.
3. Exercise. Try something like Yoga or Pilates – or any other type of exercise that doesn’t trigger a migraine. However, both Yoga and Pilates are particularly effective for migraine sufferers because of the way they both teach mindfulness, stretching, and how to tune into your breathing.
4. Set Healthy Boundaries – If you like to please people, this one is challenging…..Learn how to say no to what others want or need you to do….especially if it means that by doing that very thing, it compromises what you need to do for yourself to stay healthy. Remember, people don’t “see” migraines and don’t always realize how you are suffering. So if you have a natural inclination to put others before yourself and have a hard time saying no, think before you commit, and ask yourself, “How is this going to affect me in the long-run. Will it interfere with my migraines and health?”
5. Eat Clean – The foods available to us here in the U.S. are undeniably affected by the use of pesticides, artificial additives and GMO seed. Eating clean means eating food that is grown responsibly and not manufactured. From my experience, I have found there are lots of foods and additives that trigger migraines. Eating clean – changing your diet and making it a lifestyle can have a dramatic effect on migraines.
Along the lines of clean eating, I have just finished another 5 Day Clean Eating Challenge. It’s a great way to see how the right whole foods affect your migraines. The benefits include:
• better health
• mood
• energy
• weight
• better elimination
• help for headaches
In my Migraine Relief Program, we discuss this and many more topics for incorporating proven techniques to help alleviate and lessen the pain of migraine. To learn more ==>CLICK HERE<==