10 Tips for Enjoying the Holidays Despite Migraines

by Teri Robert, Lead Expert

Holidays are times to enjoy, but those of us with problem Migraines and headaches can find ourselves actually dreading the holiday season. Ho ho ho, HA!

Don't give up on the holidays though. If there's a positive side to Migraine disease and headaches, it's that there are many things we can do for ourselves to reduce or avoid episodes. Not only does this let us reduce our pain, it also gives us some control over our disorders and restores some of the control over our lives of which those disorders seem to rob us. Let's see how to give some of that head pain the boot!

1. Get those ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZs!

Too much, too little, poor quality, or disrupted sleep is are very common Migraine and headache triggers. Experts recommend that we set times to go to bed and get up and stick to those times, even on weekends and holidays and during vacation. If you often wake with a Migraine, don't feel rested after a night's sleep, or experience excessive daytime sleepiness, talk to your doctor about your sleep patterns.
More: Transformed Migraine Related To Sleep Problems

2. Avoid dehydration.

For some people, even mild dehydration can trigger head pain, so drinking lots of fluids is essential. Take a bit of care with what you’re drinking as some fruit juices and caffeine can be triggers. Proper hydration is essential to good health in general, so you’ll be working on more than head pain prevention!
More: Dehydration - An Avoidable Migraine Trigger

3. Regular meal times, healthy snacks.

Meal schedules can get really erratic at times, especially during busy holiday periods. We often don't even think of this in relationship to Migraines, but it can be a huge trigger. Make a special effort to have balanced meals on a regular schedule. Even those of us with the most hectic schedules or on vacations can work with this one by keeping healthy snacks handy. Look out for fast food snacks though. They can do as much harm as good.
More: Managing Migraine Food Triggers

4. Keep on keeping track.

Don't be tempted to ignore your Migraine diary during holidays or other busy periods. You may have some different triggers during such times, and if you can identify them, perhaps you can reduce your Migraines and headaches. Remember that you may encounter a trigger up to 48 hours before a Migraine begins. Your diary may reveal patterns that hadn’t been spotted before. Also, if you have many episodes with unidentified triggers, that may tell your doctor something.