6 Tips for Combatting Migraines

Migraines are painful, distracting, and just an overall irritating experience. While some migraines last for a short amount of time and are mildly uncomfortable, others can cause splitting pain that lasts for what seems like ages. With migraines becoming more prevalent, especially with the high amount of time that we as a society spend looking at screens, how do we fight migraines? We are here to try to help and answer that question for you and give you six tips for combatting migraines. These tips are quite diverse, ranging from getting a high-quality pair of computer glasses to smelling lavender oil, so keep reading to learn exactly what they are. 

1. Avoid Bright Light 

One of the biggest perpetrators of migraines is bright light, so if you feel a migraine coming on, it might be a good idea to go into a dark space if possible, avoiding excessively bright lights. We know that sometimes this isn’t feasible, especially if you work in a place that has bright lights on 24/7 and nowhere to go that’s dark, but for some people, this can be an easy fix to help combat migraines. Maybe you do your work at your favorite local coffee shop, but this particular coffee shop has really bright overhead lights. If you struggle with migraines, it might be worth considering checking out a different, dimmer coffee shop instead. A simple change like this can make a world of difference. 

2. Limit Screen Time 

Another common experience that might contribute to your migraines is excessive screen time. Culturally, we are obsessed with screens. We have smartphones, laptops, tablets, TVs, in-car GPS systems, and even some of the billboards we see when driving down the road are just giant screens. If possible, you should try limiting your screen time if you have migraines. By spending less time on your smartphone or laptop, you just might find that relief you’re looking for. Replace scrolling on your phone or laptop with reading a book or meeting up with a friend instead. 

3. Use Computer Glasses 

While tip number two is ideal, we recognize that limiting screen time is not possible for many people. So much work takes place behind laptop screens today, and most of our communication with our loved ones happens on smartphone screens. If this is true for you and you have migraines, then you should look into getting computer glasses. Computer glasses filter out the dangerous blue light that is oftentimes the cause of intense migraines, especially after looking at a screen all day long. High-quality computer glasses are the best option, as they will filter out the most blue light and provide the most relief. Computer glasses are key to a migraine-less work day. 

4. Hydrate 

If the previous three tips don’t work for you, then chances are your migraines might be due to dehydration, so our fourth tip is to drink a lot of water. Have you been following the eight-cup-a-day rule? If so, you’re probably not drinking enough water, because it has recently been found that in reality, men should have 15.5 cups of fluids per day, and women should have 11.5 cups of fluids per day. Around 20% of this amount is actually consumed in food, but the remaining percentage is taken in by water or other drinks. Drinking the right amount of water can help you combat experiencing painful migraines. 

5. Have Caffeine

A nice, hot cup of coffee just might be your solution to uncomfortable migraines. So many people today drink a cup of coffee every morning and sometimes another cup or two in the afternoon. Oftentimes, people who drink caffeine regularly like this develop a dependency on it, so you might experience migraines if you don’t have your daily dose of caffeine. Next time you experience a painful migraine, consider if you’ve had any caffeine, and if the answer is no, order a cup of coffee before you do anything else. 

6. Smell Lavender Oil 

The sixth and final tip we have for you today is to take out that essential oil kit you haven’t used in months and find the bottle of lavender oil because if you have migraines, this oil will be your new best friend. Lavender oil has been studied in research as a treatment for migraines, and the people who smelled lavender oil reported less severe headaches than those who did not. Additionally, lavender oil is known for its overall calming effect, so it could help with your stress, too, which is an added bonus.   

Conclusion 

In summary, here are the six tips we provided for combatting migraines: 

• Avoid bright light
• Limit screen time
• Use computer glasses
• Hydrate
• Have caffeine
• Smell lavender oil 

We hope these tips are helpful for you as you try to find relief from migraines. If you’re interested in getting computer glasses to help with your migraines, check out the Readers.com online shop for great, high-quality options.