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Prevention

By Mayo Clinic staff

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Whether or not you take preventive medications, you may benefit from lifestyle changes that can help reduce the number and severity of migraines. One or more of these suggestions may be helpful for you:

  • Avoid triggers. If certain foods seem to have triggered your migraines in the past, avoid those foods. If certain scents are a problem, try to avoid them. In general, establish a daily routine with regular sleep patterns and regular meals. In addition, try to control stress.
  • Exercise regularly. Regular aerobic exercise reduces tension and can help prevent migraines. If your doctor agrees, choose any aerobic exercise you enjoy, including walking, swimming and cycling. Warm up slowly, however, because sudden, intense exercise can cause headaches. Obesity is also thought to be a factor in migraine headaches, and regular exercise can help you keep your weight down.
  • Reduce the effects of estrogen. If you're a woman who has migraines and estrogen seems to trigger or make your headaches worse, you may want to avoid or reduce the medications you take that contain estrogen. These medications include birth control pills and hormone replacement therapy. Talk with your doctor about the best alternatives or dosages for you.
Alternative medicine
References
  1. NINDS Migraine information page. National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/migraine/migraine.htm. Accessed March 28, 2011.
  2. Cutrer FM, et al. Pathophysiology, clinical manifestations, and diagnosis of migraine in adults. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed March 28, 2011.
  3. Boes CJ, et al. Headache and other craniofacial pain. In: Bradley WG, et al. Neurology in Clinical Practice. 5th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Butterworth-Heinemann Elsevier; 2008. http://www.mdconsult.com/books/page.do?sid=1155758096&eid=4-u1.0-B978-0-7506-7525-3..50111-4&isbn=978-0-7506-7525-3&uniqId=240648610-3. Accessed May 1, 2011.
  4. Migraine. National Headache Foundation. http://www.headaches.org/education/Headache_Topic_Sheets/Migraine. Accessed March 30, 2011.
  5. Headache diagnosis and testing. American Headache Society. http://www.americanheadachesociety.org/assets/NAP_for_Web_-_Headache_Diagnosis_&_Testing.pdf. Accessed April 1, 2011.
  6. Headache: Hope through research. National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/headache/headachehope.pdf. Accessed April 1, 2011.
  7. Migraine. Journal of the American Medical Association. 2009;301:2608.
  8. Calhoun AH. Estrogen-associated migraine. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed March 28, 2011.
  9. Hormones and migraines. National Headache Foundation. http://www.headaches.org/education/Headache_Topic_Sheets/Hormones_and_Migraine. Accessed March 30, 2011.
  10. Bajwa ZH, et al. Acute treatment of migraine in adults. .http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed March 28, 2011.
  11. SSRIs, triptans and serotonin syndrome: What is the risk of serotonin syndrome in migraine? American Headache Society. http://www.achenet.org/education/patients/SSRIsTriptansandSerotoninSyndrome.asp?print=y. Accessed April 1, 2011.
  12. Keeping a headache diary can help your doctor help you. National Headache Foundation. http://www.headaches.org/pdf/How_Keep_Headache_Diary.pdf. Accessed April 1, 2011.
  13. Gilmore B, et al. Treatment of acute migraine headache. American Family Physician. 2011;83:271.
  14. Migraine prevention: A guide to the latest methods and treatments. National Headache Foundation. http://www.headaches.org/educational_modules/migraine_module/page_home.htm. Accessed March 31, 2011.
  15. Fenstermacher N, et al. Pharmacological prevention of migraine. British Medical Journal. 2011;342:540.
  16. Bajwa ZH, et al. Preventive treatment of migraine in adults. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed March 28, 2011.
  17. Cruse RP. Management of migraine headache in children. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed March 28, 2011.
  18. Chaibi A, et al. Manual therapies for migraine: A systematic review. Journal of Headache and Pain. 2011; epub Feb. 5.
  19. Exertional headaches. National Headache Foundation. http://www.headaches.org/education/Headache_Topic_Sheets/Exertional_Headaches. Accessed March 31, 2011.
  20. FDA approves Botox to treat chronic migraine. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. http://www.fda.gov/NewsEvents/Newsroom/PressAnnouncements/ucm229782.htm. Accessed April 14, 2011.
DS00120 June 4, 2011

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