ManagementofMigraine

Preventingmigraine
If you have ever had a migraine, you know you dont want another one. This handout will give you some ideas for preventing migraines. There are three proven steps to preventing migraine: 1) identifying and avoiding your migraine triggers; 2) practicing relaxation techniques and managing stress; and 3) medications. TRIGGERS Avoidingmigrainetriggerscancutdownorstop headachescompletelysoitsreallyworthtryingto figureoutwhatyourtriggersmightbe.Common triggersarecaffeine,alcohol,andlackofsleep.There aremanymoresopleasereadthelistoftriggersin thebookHealYourHeadacheorattheUpToDate websitelistedbelow.Youcanalsofindashortvideo aboutmigrainetriggersonlineat www.achenet.org/education/patients/Videos.asp. Keepingaheadachediaryisanotherwayto figureoutwhatyourtriggersmightbe.Youcan printacopyofaheadachediaryat www.achenet.org/tools/diaries/index.asp. RELAXATION AND STRESS MANAGEMENT Stressisacommoncauseofmigraine.Like learningtimemanagementormoneymanagement skills,youcanlearntomanagestress.Thereare provenmethodsrelaxationtherapy,biofeedback, andcognitivebehavioraltherapy.Thesecanbe learnedfromcounselors,stressmanagementclasses, oronyourown.Seethebookslistedonthispage.If youwanttotrya10minutemusclerelaxation exercise,visitourwebsiteatwww.vtad.org. MEDICINES Therearelotsofoverthecounterand prescriptionmedicinesusedforheadachesand migraines.Misuseofmedicinescancauseworsening headache.Talktoyourprimarycareproviderabout medicinesthatmakesenseforyou.Manymigraine sufferershaveaMigraineActionPlansotheyknow whattodoattheonsetofaheadache.Ifyour headachesarefrequentenoughorsevereenough thenpreventionwithmedicationmaybe appropriate.Forinformationaboutmedicinesfor migraineseethebook,TheMigraineBrainorthe websiteslisted.

BOOKS TheMigraineBrainbyCarolynBernstein& ElaineMcArdle(agreatbookwitheverything youneedtoknowaboutmigraine) HealYourHeadache:The1,2,3Programfor TakingChargeofYourPainbyDavidBuchholz, MD(athreestepapproachtotreatingmigraine) ThreeMinuteTherapy:ChangeYourThinking, ChangeYourLifebyMichaelEdelstein(abook aboutcognitivebehavioraltherapy) TheFeelingGoodHandbookbyDavidBurns(a comprehensivebookaboutcognitivebehavioral therapy) WEBSITES UpToDate(www.uptodate.com/patients) Awebsitewithpatientinformationaboutmany conditions,notjustmigraine.Searchfor migrainewww.uptodate.com/patients AmericanHeadacheSociety(www.achenet.org) Awebsitewithlotsofinformationabout treatingacutemigraineattacks,triggers, prevention,relaxationandothertreatments MedlinePlus(http://medlineplus.gov) AwebsitecreatedbytheU.S.NationalLibrary ofMedicineandNationalInstitutesofHealthwith trustworthyinformationaboutmedicines

The Vermont Academic Detailing Program www.vtad.org