“Warning: This head will self-destruct in 20 minutes, and counting…” Does that sum up the typical migraine attack for you? To prevent a migraine, it’s important to be able to recognize the earliest symptoms, so you can nip it in the bud, because your first twenty minutes are your most crucial in migraine prevention.
Migraine is a neurological disorder that occurs when your nerve cells are “triggered” into producing symptoms of immense headaches, intense nausea, and dizzying vertigo.
From the moment your nerve cells swing into action, you have about twenty minutes to prevent them from spreading throughout your entire nervous system and initiating a full-fledged migraine attack.
Those first few minutes are your most critical; your only window of opportunity to effectively reduce the severity and duration of a migraine attack is when you first notice the warning symptoms- fatigue, headache, wooziness, queasiness, or brain fog.
That is why some of the most successful migraine treatments are abortive medications that you use during those first few key minutes of a migraine attack.
Which meds should I take?
Prescription migraine medications vary according to their specific action.
In the first twenty minutes: At the very onset of a migraine attack, you have the option of using abortive migraine medications, such as triptans, which are commonly prescribed to people suffering from chronic migraines. These can be helpful for killing a migraine headache immediately…but only if you act fast, during the first twenty minutes or so. Long-term side effects may include brain fog, dizziness, memory loss, and fatigue.
Before the migraine: There are many types of prescription migraine prophylaxis (preventive) medications available on the market which, taken daily, may work to prevent migraines. These may include antidepressants, anticonvulsants, and calcium channel blockers.
As with abortive medications, preventative drugs may also cause harmful side effects which you should discuss with your doctor.
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What else can I do for prevention?
Natural preventive tactics may be just as effective for reducing the number of migraines you get in a month, while also enabling you to take fewer prescription medications.
Natural supplements that affect migraines by promoting neurological health include vitamins such as riboflavin, vitamin B12, and folate.
Also, nutrients such as magnesium, CoQ10, and iron help to sustain chromosomal integrity.
Other helpful natural ingredients include butterbur, turmeric, and vitamin C for proper response to inflammation.
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Act fast at first sign of a migraine
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