Migraines and headaches are a common source of pain across Australia. 4.9 million Australians suffer from migraines, and 23% of households across Australia contain at least one migraine sufferer (https://headacheaustralia.org.au/what-is-headache/prevalence-and-cost-of-headache/).
Migraines are, at best, a nuisance, but at their worst they can be debilitating. While migraine treatments have come on leaps and bounds in recent years, with experienced chiropractors like those at the Melville Wellness Centre able to offer treatments targeting migraines and headaches, sometimes a quick solution is needed at home.
Here are our five top tips for dealing with migraines at home.
1. Exercise
It's probably not what you want to hear, but yes: a little bit of light exercise can help to relieve the pain of a migraine when it hits. Even just taking a brisk walk down the street could help to ease the tension of your headache.
2. Sleep
Taking a nap - even just for 20 minutes - could help to give your body the vital strength it needs to recover. Of course, if you can, sleeping through your migraine is one way to avoid the pain of it, though for many people this isn't always possible.
3. Hot and cold compresses
Hot and cold compresses are often recommended for different types of pain; a cold compress can help to numb the area, while a hot compress can relax your muscles. Try both - or even alternate - and see if this helps your migraine.
4. Try some caffeine
It's not often that coffee and chocolate are recommended for pain relief, but in this case, they can be quite helpful. Headaches are often caused by dilated blood vessels, and caffeine can combat this with its vasoconstrictive properties. Caffeine is so effective it's actually used in over-the-counter migraine medicines.
5. Drink plenty of fluids
Dehydration can cause a headache or even trigger a migraine. It's always a good idea to drink plenty of fluids when you have a headache because this could help to usher out your migraine sooner.
How can a chiropractor help?
Chiropractors can assess and diagnose headaches, as well as offering effective migraine treatment plans which target the cause of your specific headaches. Contact the Melville Wellness Centre, a Perth chiropractor, to discuss how we can help you to manage your migraines for good.
