How to Treat a Severe Migraine
The pain of migraine headaches can be debilitating. Frequent migraine sufferers are best treated by a medical professional. Home treatment can be used for occasional migraines or as a complementary method to combine with medical treatment. Treatment of a migraine headache is most successful when initiated before the pain is too severe. Preventative treatments are also helpful in reducing the frequency and severity of migraine headaches.Things You'll Need
- Over-the-counter headache pain reliever
Instructions
Take an over-the-counter headache pain reliever at the onset of the migraine headache, or take a prescription migraine medication if one has been prescribed to you by your doctor.
Consult with a doctor if you experience more than nine migraine headaches a month. Overuse of medications can cause rebound headaches. Rebound headaches are headaches that are caused by pain medications. A doctor can prescribe preventative medication to reduce the frequency of migraine attacks and therefore minimize the use of pain medications.
Rest in a quiet, dark room when you experience migraine pain, especially if the migraine symptoms include sensitivity to light.
Eat regularly without skipping meals to maintain even blood sugar levels. Drops in blood sugar can bring on a migraine headache in some individuals.
Drink plenty of fluids to keep the body hydrated. Dehydration can bring on migraine headaches in some individuals.
Follow the "migraine diet." The migraine diet eliminates migraine-causing foods such as MSG, caffeine, chocolate, alcohol and aged cheese. See the resource section for a complete list of foods to avoid when following the migraine diet.
Stop smoking. The Migraine Headache and Neurological Institute reports that the results of a smoking survey showed that 33 percent of migraine sufferers were smokers.
Go to a licensed acupuncturist for treatment. A study reported by the British Medical Journal was conducted on 401 patients in England and Wales showed that headache sufferers who underwent acupuncture experienced fewer headaches.