By Dr. Ann-Marie Barter, D.C. Learn how to identify and avoid common triggers that can cause migraine headaches in 7 easy steps. How can you treat a chronic problem like a migraine headache? It is difficult to get rid of a migraine headache when it strikes. Our busy lives make it difficult to find the time to lie in bed for more than a few hours each month. Although migraine headaches are often demonized, they can be a sign that something is wrong in your body.

Steps

Here are 7 steps that I have compiled to help you avoid migraine headaches.

• Get enough sleep. To ensure a good night’s sleep, you must get to bed on time, avoid watching late-night television, avoid exercising at night, as well as avoid caffeine in the afternoon. Migraines can be caused by lack of sleep or excessive caffeine intake.
• Reduce stress and anxiety. This is a crucial step because the attack usually does not occur until the stress has subsided.
• This could mean that migraines can occur more frequently around or during menstrual cycles, estrogen replacement therapy, or birth control. Sometimes, migraines can occur early in pregnancy. They will usually subside after the first trimester. Women can also experience a decrease of migraines if they use a low-dose contraceptive.
• This will likely mean eating more often, eating dense protein, eating fat, making sure you have emergency snacks in case of low blood sugar.
• Avoid certain foods. It is important to remember that migraines have been linked to certain foods such as wine, cheese, processed foods and sodas. Have you ever heard the expression “You are what you eat”? Step
• You’re almost there! To identify the triggers of migraines, it is important to remember what you did prior to the migraine. You can also have migraines from a combination of the above.