| There are not too many types of pain that can | | | | Relaxing can often alleviate the pain and |
| be as terrible as migraine headache pain. The | | | | sometimes even get rid of it altogether. Relaxing |
| overall pain can often be totally disabling, resulting | | | | is especially useful if you have any warning signs |
| in a complete disruption of a person's life. Migraines | | | | such as auras that will alert you to the upcoming |
| can be very difficult to manage and control, but | | | | headache, allowing you to start relaxing before |
| by knowing a few simple tricks it's often possible | | | | the actual head pain appears. |
| to quickly reduce the intensity of the pain to a | | | | 2 - Cold therapy |
| tolerable level, and sometimes even make it go | | | | This is as simple as placing an ice pack on the |
| away altogether. | | | | back of the neck at the base of the skull. |
| Most migraine headache sufferers will develop a | | | | Migraines are caused when blood vessels |
| recognizable pattern to their disorder. These | | | | surrounding the brain dilate, or enlarge, causing an |
| patterns are different for everyone, but if paid | | | | increase pressure in the head. Placing an ice pack |
| attention to can often alert a person to an | | | | at the base of the skull can cause a reduced |
| impending headache. Knowing that a migraine | | | | amount of blood flow to the head which can also |
| attack is imminent can help a person begin | | | | cause a constriction of the blood vessels. Using an |
| treatment early and often reduce or eliminate the | | | | ice pack in conjunction with relaxing in a quiet dark |
| headache completely. | | | | room can increase the effect. When using an ice |
| Once a headache begins it's all a matter of doing | | | | pack it's always best to place a damp cloth |
| something that will relieve or stop the pain. | | | | between the ice and the skin and to never place |
| Fortunately, there are many natural methods that | | | | ice directly on the skin for an extended period of |
| can accomplish this goal without the use of | | | | time. |
| dangerous drugs. People that take painkillers too | | | | 3 - Heat therapy |
| often can actually experience rebound headaches, | | | | You may be asking yourself "why would heat help |
| so it's usually a good idea to find non-drug | | | | a migraine when it's the exact opposite of an ice |
| methods that can help with the pain. Rebound | | | | pack?" Ice works because it lessens the blood |
| headaches are headaches that are actually caused | | | | flow to the head, but believe it or not, heat can |
| from the medications themselves. Instead of | | | | do the same thing. Heat can also help decrease |
| relieving a headache they will actually cause it. | | | | the blood flow to the head by heating up an area |
| 1 - Relaxation | | | | away from the head. A nice hot bath will heat up |
| The best thing you can do when a migraine | | | | the body, causing the blood to flow away from |
| appears is not to panic. Increasing your stress | | | | the head and into the body. This will cause the |
| level will only increase your pain. Stay calm and | | | | same result as an ice pack, only in a different |
| find a quiet dark room to lie down in and relax. | | | | way. |