While the holidays can be a wonderful time to spend with family and friends, they can have a dark side as well. Every year, doctors usually see an uptick in migraines during the holiday season. A combination of not eating right or skipping meals entirely, lack of exercise, poor sleep, and increased stress associated with this time are all potential triggers that play a role in this phenomenon.
So, is there anything you can do to prevent this? Experts at NYU Langone Health say yes! The good news for headache and migraine sufferers is that there are many ways to prevent severe episodes of a headache or migraine. Here’s how:
- Plan in advance: Make lists of everything you need to do, buy, pack or cook. If possible, don’t shop during peak hours when stores are packed. Migraines and headaches result from a brain that is sensitive to even minor deviations in routine, so make your routine a priority.
- Don’t skip meals: Empty stomachs can spur headaches. If unable to follow your normal eating schedule, pack snacks. Stay mindful that certain foods and liquids can trigger a migraine, including processed meats, chocolate, nuts, and aged cheeses.
- Limit exposure to smoke or perfume-filled rooms: Both can trigger headaches. Find some fresh air.
- If you drink, do so in moderation: Alternate alcoholic drinks with glasses of water. Avoid red wine, which contains an amino acid known to trigger headaches. Limit your alcohol intake in the hour or two before bedtime.
- Prioritize personal time: Many people try to pack too much holiday socializing into too little time. Give yourself a break and leave time for down time. A few hours alone each week can reduce stress.
- Maintain a regular sleep and eating schedule: Changes in either of these areas can bring on migraines.
- Schedule an appointment with a neurologist: New treatment options, such as calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP)-targeting medications, can drastically improve the frequency and intensity of migraines.