Will tomorrow be a productive day or another one lying in bed?
In middle school, it was because of the overhead lighting, brash and intrusive on my eight hour school day. In adulthood, it is not enough water, caffeine, food, or hormones, body temperature, and cigarette smoke — the list goes on.
My migraines have haunted me throughout my life and have been a constant in my weekly struggles. If I am plagued with a debilitating migraine on one day, my whole week is shifted. The tasks that I had planned to complete on that day, are now moved to the next, creating a cycle of a never ending struggle to catch up.
Migraines affect 36 million Americans and 27 million of those sufferers are women. Menstruation, hormones, pregnancy, and menopause can all contribute to migraines.
And just for the record, migraines are not headaches. According to the Migraine Research Foundation, migraines are a collection of “neurological symptoms that usually includes a severe recurring intense throbbing pain on one side of the head” and attacks typically “last between 4 and 72 hours.” Let’s not forget the sensitivity to light, sound, touch, smell and nausea, vomiting and dizziness that occur when having an intense migraine.
I have compiled three easy tips to help naturally ease pain without resorting to taking medication or pills — although, I know it’s tempting.
Shut Off Electronics
Once I started freelancing and my job involved analyzing, deadlines, and the bright light from my laptop, I had to find alternatives to coping with migraines. Poor work performance and missed days were not an option and I found that my laptop and various devices were contributing to a strain on my eyes, especially before sleep.
Keep track of your migraines in a daily log with pain levels and the precise times that they attack. Make sure to adjust the orange light setting on your phone and look into purchasing computer glasses to ease eye straining and glare. Additionally, there are plenty of settings and options to sort through if you must be on your computer late into the evening.
Stay Hydrated
Before reaching for that pill bottle, listen to your body and give into its cravings. Often times, migraines can be avoided by drinking an ample amount of H20 and eating enough fruit. Water rids the body of toxins and is beneficial to your skin, digestion, and attitude.
As someone who barely drank any water growing up, I now have my water bottle glued to my side at all times. Once you start, you can’t stop. Purchase a recyclable and reusable water bottle to make sure that they drink the correct amount of water a day.
Get physical
Often times, the first thing you want to do when a migraine strikes is to shut off the lights, turn off the sound, and crawl into bed for a nice long nap. Instead of going that route, try exercising in the fresh air. Low cardio workouts such as walking briskly or cruising on your bike can increase your overall wellness and circulate blood flow to rid the body of your migraine.
Surprisingly, getting physical can also involve intercourse. Researchers have discovered that the rush of endorphins may act as natural painkillers and can cure a migraine. It’s worth a shot, eh?
In addition to all of these tips, don’t forget to speak with your doctor. Chronic migraines can have a plethora of causes and everyone should seek out a physician to make sure that all avenues have been considered. Migraines can plague a persons well-being and appreciation for a regular life. Depending on pain relievers and pills can lead to more issues down the line — why not pinpoint the triggering cause first? In the end, we are all just trying to life our best life.
COVER IMAGE COURTESY OF SHUTTERSTOCK.
comments