Beating a migraine over Christmas

Don’t let migraine headaches spoil Christmas

A migraine attack can ruin Christmas and New Year celebrations and many people are unable to enjoy the festivities due to these severe headaches. However, the risk of a migraine can be lessened by taking a few simple steps.

Reduce stress
Try to keep everything low-key whenever possible. Although this might sound a little boring, getting stressed out and over-stimulated can bring on a migraine attack as adrenaline levels rise. If you have lots to do, try to delegate tasks and chores to others in the family so you don’t overburden yourself. Take a few moments in the day to relax and combine this with a little exercise.

Reduce sugar intake
Christmas means there’ll be lots of sugary snacks tempting you but try not to over-dose on the chocolates which can act as a trigger to your migraine.

Eat regularly
Routine seems to go out of the window over Christmas and New Year but one thing you should try to keep in check is your eating pattern. Eat regularly and as you would on any other day whenever possible.

Not too much alcohol
Booze is another migraine trigger and the temptation is to have one too many over the holiday period. Alcohol will dehydrate the body and lead to a migraine headache so drink in moderation and have plenty of water in between drinks to keep the body hydrated and stave off an attack. A good rule of thumb is to drink the equivalent in water to alcohol.

Sleep normally
It’s nice to have some time off over the Christmas break but avoid having a lie in. Disrupting your usual sleep pattern can trigger a migraine attack so try to keep your routine as normal as possible.

Treat yourself
Christmas is the perfect time to pamper yourself so why not try one of the many alternative medicine and complementary therapy methods that can help you relax and prevent or treat your migraine. Massage, Acupuncture and Reflexology can all help your stress levels and migraines.

Learn more about migraines and other therapies that can help here.

Here’s to a merry migraine-free Christmas and a happy, healthy New Year!

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One Response to “Beating a migraine over Christmas”

James Says:
January 6th, 2009 at 1:16 pm
I have suffered from migraines for many years now and I am always on the look out for new ways to help. This article has some interesting ideas on how to reduce the risks of a migraine starting. Complementary therapy is something which I have not considered before but after looking into acupuncture & reflexology I feel that it will be a worthwhile venture.

Thanks