The primary symptom of a migraine attack is intense, crippling headaches usually on one side of the head. Migraine attacks may also include the additional symptoms of:

• nausea,
• vomiting,
• sensitivity to light and sound,
• numbness,
• pins and needles,
• difficulty speaking.  

Migraine headaches often run in families and are more commonly diagnosed in women, than men. It can affect people of all ages. Migraine attacks can be caused by a number of triggers. Understanding what triggers your migraine attacks is an important part of managing them. Some common triggers include:

stress, anxiety, or depression: high levels of emotional stress is one of the most reported triggers,

dietary factors: certain foods and beverages can be a trigger. Excess caffeine or alcohol are common triggers,

sleep irregularity: both insufficient and excess sleep can trigger migraines,

hormonal changes in women: during menstruation, pregnancy, or menopause,

strong sensory stimuli: bright or flickering lights, strong smells, loud noises, and drastic changes in environmental conditions can be triggers.

If you are experiencing a migraine attack, there are some simple strategies to provide relief from your symptoms.

• pain-relieving, and anti-nausea medication are available to help manage symptoms,
• minimise sensory stimuli by laying down in a quiet, dark room,
• massage your scalp or temples,
• applying a cold cloth behind your neck or on your forehead,
• avoid movement, and rest,
• avoid excess caffeine (e.g., tea or coffee),
• try to relax and avoid visual stimulation (e.g., reading books or watching tv).

While there is no cure for migraine attacks, it’s possible to reduce the frequency and severity of migraine attacks by learning what your triggers are and changing your lifestyle to avoid or minimise them.

Keeping a diary of when you have migraine attacks can be a useful tool to help you work out what may be triggering them. The following lifestyle changes should be considered to help address some of the most common triggers:

• practices like meditation, yoga, and deep breathing for stress,
• have regular meals, and keep a food diary to reference when you have an episode,
• limit caffeine and alcohol consumption,
• develop a regular sleep pattern (most adults need at least 7 hours of sleep),
• sunglasses can help with bright or flickering lights, and noise reducing headphones can help with loud noises,
• speak to your doctor if you have concerns about hormonal changes that you may be experiencing.

Migraine headaches can be a disruptive and distressing experience. There is no cure, and they are likely to continue to occur with a varying level of frequency. It’s important for you or your loved ones to learn what is triggering the attacks and deciding to manage the condition.

By making the necessary lifestyle changes, and adopting preventative measures, migraine sufferers can significantly improve their quality of life. Speaking with a healthcare professional is recommended to discuss your possible triggers, and how to manage them.