2691: Getting Relief from Migraine: Preventive and Acute Treatments by Stephanie Watson with Healthline

[00:00:00] Have you ever noticed how a calm mind can really set the stage for a good night's sleep?

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[00:00:41] from Migraine, Preventive and Acute Treatments by Stephanie Watson with Healthline.com

[00:00:47] and I'm Dr. Neal, your host and narrator. I'm going to keep this intro nice and short,

[00:00:52] so let's get right to another post and continue optimizing your life. Getting relief from Migraine,

[00:01:02] Preventive and Acute Treatments by Stephanie Watson with Healthline.com

[00:01:08] Acute treatments for migraine headaches aim to help relieve migraine symptoms,

[00:01:13] while preventive treatments aim to prevent them. Both treatment approaches include medications

[00:01:18] and lifestyle remedies. Migraine is a condition characterized by throbbing, debilitating

[00:01:24] headaches, often on one side of the head. Migraine headaches are often accompanied by other symptoms

[00:01:30] such as nausea, vomiting and sensitivity to light, sounds and smells. There are two approaches

[00:01:36] to treating migraine. One, acute treatment. This aims to stop a migraine attack from getting

[00:01:42] worse and to stop migraine symptoms entirely once it has already started. And two, preventive

[00:01:48] treatment. This aims to prevent a migraine attack from occurring. Many people who experience migraine

[00:01:54] episodes only require acute treatment. However, if you have chronic migraine, you may require

[00:02:00] a combination of both preventive and acute treatments. Keep listening to learn more about some medications

[00:02:06] and natural remedies that could be used for acute and preventive migraine treatments.

[00:02:12] Acute treatment for migraine headaches. Acute treatment for migraine aims to help relieve

[00:02:17] the pain, symptoms and progression of episodes. It's important to take medication for migraine

[00:02:22] as soon as you begin to experience symptoms, as this may greatly reduce symptoms.

[00:02:28] According to the American Migraine Foundation, you may have up to a two-hour window of opportunity.

[00:02:34] Over-the-counter medications. Over-the-counter pain relievers are the most commonly used

[00:02:39] acute treatments. They can relieve mild to moderate migraine pain. Over-the-counter

[00:02:45] pain relievers for migraine may include non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs or NSAIDs such as

[00:02:51] ibuprofen or Advil, aspirin, tyclophenic or Cambria and naproxen or Aleve. Analgisix may also be

[00:03:00] used such as acetaminophen or Tylenol. Or a combination drug containing acetaminophen,

[00:03:06] aspirin and caffeine, something like Eccedrine for example. It's important to take only the

[00:03:12] recommended dose of these medications for just as long as you need them. Long-term use of these

[00:03:17] medications may cause side effects such as stomach bleeding, ulcers and medication overuse headaches

[00:03:23] also known as rebound headaches. This refers to a new type of headache or worsening of your

[00:03:29] current headaches as a result of adapting to medications. Over-the-counter anti-immedics

[00:03:34] may help relieve other symptoms associated with severe migraines such as nausea and vomiting.

[00:03:39] This may include diamond hydranate or gramamine. Prescription medications

[00:03:45] Several prescription migraine medications are also available for acute treatment. Speak with

[00:03:51] a healthcare professional if you experience migraine headaches more than eight days per month

[00:03:55] and require acute treatment. This may be a sign you need preventive treatment.

[00:04:00] The first line prescription medication for the acute treatment of moderate to severe migraine

[00:04:05] is tryptans. These help relieve migraine headaches and other symptoms by narrowing blood vessels in

[00:04:11] the brain. Other prescription medications available for acute migraine treatment include

[00:04:17] ergotamines, calcitonin gene-related peptide or CGRP antagonists, corticosteroid injections

[00:04:24] and opioids if nothing else works. Home remedies

[00:04:29] Several natural remedies may help relieve migraine pain such as aroma therapy with

[00:04:34] essential oils such as lavender, peppermint and fever-few, scalp massage, acupressure and sleeping.

[00:04:42] It's important to note limited research supports the migraine relieving properties of these remedies.

[00:04:47] It's best to use these with other acute treatments for migraine headaches.

[00:04:51] Preventive treatment for migraine headaches Preventive treatment, also known as migraine

[00:04:57] prophylaxis, may be recommended if you experience severe migraine headaches at

[00:05:01] least 8 days a month. The aim of migraine prophylaxis is to help reduce the frequency,

[00:05:06] duration and severity of migraine headaches. Medications A healthcare professional can prescribe

[00:05:13] preventive medications for chronic migraine. To avoid potential side effects, drug interactions

[00:05:19] and serious complications it's important to let them know of any underlying health

[00:05:24] conditions you may have and whether you're taking medications. A common preventive

[00:05:28] medication for migraine headaches is propranolol or inderal which is a beta blocker.

[00:05:34] Other types of preventive medications include CGRP monoclonal antibodies, anti-convulsants,

[00:05:41] antidepressants, calcium channel blockers and Botox injections.

[00:05:46] Surgery Surgery may be an option if you haven't

[00:05:49] gotten enough relief from migraine medications or other treatments.

[00:05:54] Some types of surgery include peripheral neuralysis and nerve decompression.

[00:05:58] It's important to note that research is needed to explore the role of surgery in migraine

[00:06:03] prevention treatment. Lifestyle Changes Some lifestyle approaches may help you prevent

[00:06:09] migraine headaches such as avoiding triggers which may include alcohol, stress, loud environments

[00:06:15] and so on. Trying stress relieving activities such as yoga, stretching and meditation.

[00:06:22] Getting at least 150 minutes of moderate intensity exercise weekly.

[00:06:27] Eating a well-balanced diet. And practicing healthy sleep hygiene. Neuromodulation Devices

[00:06:35] Neuromodulation devices are a newer alternative to migraine medication.

[00:06:40] These non-invasive devices work by slowing brain activity to help reduce headache pain.

[00:06:45] The Food and Drug Administration or FDA has approved several neuromodulation devices

[00:06:50] for migraine treatment. These can help relieve migraine headaches or be used to prevent migraine headaches.

[00:06:57] Neuromodulation devices for migraine include cephaly,

[00:07:02] single pulse transcranial magnetic stimulation or STMS, Gamakor, Naryvio and Relivion.

[00:07:10] Take away. Treatment approaches for migraine attacks include acute and preventive treatments.

[00:07:16] Treatments for both approaches may include medications and natural remedies.

[00:07:21] If you are experiencing migraine headaches more than 8 days per month, speak with a healthcare

[00:07:26] professional. Keeping track of your symptoms in a headache diary can help you more accurately

[00:07:31] describe them. A doctor could help develop a treatment plan to help you prevent migraine

[00:07:36] episodes. You just listened to the post titled Getting Relief from Migraine – Preventive

[00:07:45] and Acute Treatments by Stephanie Watson with Healthline.com and I'll be right back with my

[00:07:50] commentary. Dr. Neal here for my commentary. I often get asked, how do I know if I have a migraine

[00:07:57] or if it's just a really bad headache? Well according to the American Family Physician

[00:08:02] Journal there is an easy way to find out. Use this mnemonic – pound or pound-aink.

[00:08:09] The P in pound stands for pulsating meaning does the headache feel like it's pulsating

[00:08:14] or throbbing. Next, O. O stands for one to three days meaning how long does the headache last?

[00:08:23] A migraine can last from four hours but even up to 72 hours. The U stands for unilateral.

[00:08:31] That means that a migraine headache is usually painful on one side of the head

[00:08:35] but not all over. N stands for nausea or vomiting both of which are common with migraines.

[00:08:42] Those suffering from a migraine may also experience sensitivity to light and sound.

[00:08:47] O. N. D. Disabling intensity. This means that the headache is so painful it's hard to function

[00:08:53] it's difficult to do anything really and moving the body makes the migraine feel even worse.

[00:08:59] Of course, any headache that feels like the worst pain ever probably needs immediate medical

[00:09:05] attention or a headache that comes on suddenly with extreme pain instead of like that gradual

[00:09:10] pain that a migraine usually has. That also needs immediate medical attention.

[00:09:16] But hopefully with some of the tips described in today's article we can prevent or at least

[00:09:21] acutely treat migraine headaches. Alright, that'll do it for today. I hope you have a great rest

[00:09:27] of your day and I'll see you back here tomorrow for the usual Friday Q&A so definitely

[00:09:32] stay tuned for that where your optimal life awaits.