Migraines

There are millions of people who experience migraines. But three
times as many women than men experience migraines. In fact, about 70% of all migraine sufferers are women.

Migraines not only ruin the quality of your life, they can leave you on a
roller coaster of doctor’s visits, prescription drugs and their side
effects, with migraine sufferers using twice the amount of prescription
drugs and visiting doctors and emergency rooms twice as often as those who don’t have the disorder.

For many, no matter how many doctors they visit, no relief is in sight. And, even when prescription drugs help, they bring their own dangerous side effects to the mix, like fatigue, racing heartbeat, difficulty thinking, tightness in the chest or throat and more.

It’s no wonder that more and more people are looking for natural relief from their migraines. If you’re one of them, here’s a list of the top seven
natural ways to get rid of your migraines and get back to your life.

·         Exercise- Regular exercise can reduce the frequency and intensity
of headaches and migraines. In fact, one study showed that exercise was as effective as taking a prescribed migraine medication, at preventing
migraines. It works because when you exercise, your body releases
endorphins, which are your body’s natural painkillers. Exercise also reduces stress and helps you to sleep at night. This is vital since stress and lack of sleep are two of the most common migraine triggers.

·         Quit smoking- Tobacco is a known trigger for headaches,
specifically migraines. And, one study demonstrated that not only do smokers have more migraine attacks but that smoking more than five cigarettes a day results in these headaches.

·         Maintain a healthy weight- Carrying around extra weight isn’t just bad for your joints, it can actually cause migraines. In fact, the combined results of 12 studies showed that people with obesity have a 27 percent higher risk of migraines than people with a normal weight. The study also showed that being underweight carried risks as well, with a 13 percent higher risk than people with a normal weight.

·         Establish a sleep schedule- lack of sleep is a common migraine
trigger. Keeping a set schedule and getting at least eight to ten hours of
sleep per night is vital to reducing the number of migraines you have.

·         Practice good posture- Poor posture causes a strain on your neck
and back muscles and can result in a migraine. Practice good posture and
strengthen your postural muscles to help alleviate your headaches. Check
your posture throughout your day. Is your head back? Is your spine straight?
Are your shoulders hunched? Correct any problems you find. And, don’t forget the importance of balance. If you’re carrying items, try to distribute the weight evenly rather than holding all of the weight on one side, which
throws off your posture.

·         Reduce stress- Since many migraines are caused by stress, you want to take steps to lower your levels and learn to relax. Yoga, meditation and aerobic exercise are all good stress relievers. Or, just soak in a bath of Epsom salts with a good book. This gives you an added boost of magnesium, also good for preventing migraines.