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Treatment of migraine involves eliminating triggering factors. These include:
- Behavioral (anxiety, stress, smoking, fatigue).
- Dietary (alcohol, chocolate, processed meats).
- Environmental (pollution, altitude, exposure to sunlight).
- Internal (menstruation, frequent illnesses).
A useful way to control them is to keep a headache diary. Diary entries should include everything about the features of the headache, noting, for example:
- Duration of the attack.
- Quality of the pain.
- Location of the pain.
- Phenomena occurring before or after the attack.
Once the triggering factors have been determined, drug therapy can be considered. Drugs should be prescribed by a physician and dosage directions must be closely followed. Normally, oral preparations should not be taken because migraine attacks are often accompanied by nausea and vomiting.
NSAIDs (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) are useful in the treatment of mild forms of migraine. They should be taken at the first signs of attack. In the treatment of more painful attacks, tryptanes are generally indicated. They reduce dilation of the brain's blood vessels. However, they can also produce side effects such as fatigue and chest tightness. Moreover, they are not indicated in certain situations.
Migraine-induced pain intensifies with movement and is sometimes worsened by exposure to light. Rest in a darkened room can provide pain relief.
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