Migraine Hygiene

When we hear the word hygiene, we think of cleanliness with regard to our bodies. Migraine hygiene refers to the many steps that can be taken to avoid or cope with migraines.

As a parent of a migraineur, I found that my son was receptive to learning strategies that prevented or reduced pain; however, he refused to apply them. I think this was because it was so difficult for him to remember what he had learned when he was experiencing pain.

I believe this ability comes with maturation. Now that he is twelve he will actively drink enough water, put himself to sleep, or avoid triggers. Just as symptoms and types of migraines vary from person to person; migraine hygiene is unique to each individual.

My son must incorporate the following "rituals" in his daily life: maintaining a certain level of hydration, avoiding extreme heat, eating 3 meals plus 2 snacks every day, maintaining a consistent bed time, avoiding foods with MSG, avoiding artificial odors (candles), and reducing stress.

What steps does your child take to control his or her migraine headaches? Please share. Hopefully, this information will help other individuals who are struggling to cope with this condition.

Sleep - The Perfect Remedy

I call sleep our bodies' natural reset button. Sleep helps migraine sufferers return to a normal, pain-free state just as the reset button on our computers and electronic equipment helps to return to a normal state of digital operation.

When my son or I have a migraine, falling into a deep sleep naturally resets our brains, which results in either eliminating the pain or reducing it! So, the next time you have a bad migraine give sleep a try. It may be a remedy that makes a difference, enabling you to reduce the duration of your migraine!

I noticed that my son was not able to fall into a deep sleep during a migraine until he became older. He would say that he couldn't fall asleep until it was his bedtime. He is now a pre-adolescent and has recently put himself to bed (right in the middle of the day) when he has a very bad migraine. He sleeps for 1 - 2 hours and wakes up happy, smiling and feeling great!

My husband and I almost always rub my son's head when he has a migraine. This calms him down and reduces the pain so he can fall asleep.