A migraine is much more than your typical headache. It can cause extreme pain, nausea and vomiting, and sensitivity to light and sound. The throbbing pain can quickly ruin your day and interfere with your life.

But you don’t have to sit back and wait for a migraine to end. As long as you know how to deal with it, you can tackle it from all sides and get back to your daily life.

What is a migraine?

Migraine is a neurological condition that can cause multiple symptoms. It’s frequently characterized by intense, debilitating headaches. Symptoms may include nausea, vomiting,  difficulty speaking, numbness or tingling, and sensitivity to light and sound. Migraines often run in families and affect all ages.

The diagnosis of migraine headaches is determined based on clinical history, reported symptoms, and by ruling out other causes.

Migraines can begin in childhood or may not occur until early adulthood. Women are more likely than men to have migraines. Family history is one of the most common risk factors for having migraines.

Migraine symptoms

Migraine symptoms may begin one to two days before the headache itself. This is known as the prodrome stage. Symptoms during this stage can include:

• food cravings
• depression
• fatigue or low energy
• frequent yawning
• hyperactivity
• irritability
• neck stiffness
• Migraine pain

People describe migraine pain as:

• pulsating
• throbbing
• perforating
• pounding
• Debilitating

It can also feel like a severe dull, steady ache. The pain may start out as mild, but without treatment will become moderate to severe.

Migraine pain most commonly affects the forehead area. It’s usually on one side of the head, but it can occur on both sides or shift.

Most migraines last about 4 hours. If they’re not treated or don’t respond to treatment, they can last for as long as 72 hours to a week. I don’t allow migraines to become a headache of life. Take note of these simple steps, and you’ll be prepared the next time a migraine strikes.

Step 1: Have a treatment plan

A solid plan can give you the power to relieve a migraine before the pain becomes severe. This may be the most important weapon you have against future migraine attacks.

Your plan will likely include taking medications when you feel a migraine coming on. Knowing which medication to take can lower your stress level because it removes some of the guesswork of what you should do. Your plan may include over-the-counter pain relievers, prescription medications, or some combination of the two. You should work with your doctor to develop a migraine treatment plan that’s right for you.

Step 2: Treat it early

• Timing is everything when it comes to relieving a migraine. Take your medication as early as possible. people often include symptoms such as:
• sensitivity to light or sound
• mood changes such as irritability, anxiety, or euphoria
• trouble concentrating
• food cravings, usually carbohydrates
• fatigue or yawning

If you’ve had migraines for a while, you may be able to easily spot your early symptoms. This allows you to be proactive, not reactive, in treating the pain. You may need to keep your migraine medications with you at all times so you can take them as soon as you recognize the early stages of your attack.

Step 3: Consider what caused it

If you can determine the cause of your migraine, you may be able to take additional steps to find relief. For instance, are you getting a migraine because you haven’t had enough to eat today? Some migraines can be triggered by a lack of food, which can cause low blood sugar or hypoglycemia. If you think your headache is triggered by hunger, eating something dehydrated can cause headaches too and may make your migraine worse. If you haven’t had enough fluids today, get a drink of water. Sip slowly to avoid triggering nausea or vomiting.

Step 5: Caffeine can help (sometimes)

A cup of coffee may help stop a migraine. Many over-the-counter pain relievers contain caffeine because it can enhance the effects of the medication.

Talk to your doctor

Sometimes the symptoms of a migraine headache can mimic those of a stroke. It’s important to seek immediate medical attention if you or a loved one has a headache that: causes slurred speech or drooping on one side of the face causes new leg or arm weakness comes on very suddenly and severely with no lead-in symptoms or warning occurs with a fever, neck stiffness, confusion, seizure, double vision, weakness, numbness, or difficulty speaking would be called the worst headache ever is accompanied by loss of consciousness Make an appointment to see your doctor if your headaches start to affect your daily life.