Lifestyle Changes for Migraine Patients
Overview
Because there are many factors that contribute to headache disorders, lifestyle changes can impact patient outcomes. Behaviors like getting consistent sleep, eating a more balanced diet and exercising regularly can help reduce attack frequency and intensity. Learn more about lifestyle changes and resources you can offer patients to track their daily activities and utilize changes within their control to start reducing the frequency of their attacks.
Test Your Knowledge
Videos
Explaining the Importance of Routine
Educating patients with migraine about maintaining a healthy, predictable routine can help them manage their migraine. Here’s how to talk to your patient about establishing a routine.
SMART Tips for Migraine in Adolescents
Identifying specific triggers and relieving factors for migraine attacks is a key aspect of controlling the pain. The mnemonic device SMART can help you and your adolescent patients remember some daily lifestyle tips to help prevent or reduce migraine attacks.
Diet and Migraine: A Q&A with Dr. Vincent Martin
The relationship between diet and migraine is vastly misunderstood. Dr. Vincent Martin estimates 10% or less of people are sensitive to “food triggers.” People living with migraine can identify some food triggers, and rule others out, by examining their diet and understanding how specific foods affect their migraine.
News & Articles
Research Summary: Prospective cohort study of routine exercise and headache outcomes among adults with episodic migraine
Headache®: The Journal of Head and Face Pain published "Prospective cohort study of routine exercise andRead More
Research Summary: Stress Reduction for Migraine Management
The journal PAIN® published "Enhanced mindfulness-based stress reduction in episodic migraine: a randomized clinical trialRead More
Maintaining Compassion on Diet-Based Migraine Matters
Alan Finkel, MD, FAHS, highlights the need to listen to and support patients with migraineRead More
Sleep, Migraine and Improved Patient Outcomes
By Angeliki Vgontzas, MD The value of educating patients on healthy sleep habits Poor sleepRead More
Migraine Triggers
Studies presented at #AHS18SF explore the link between 4 commonly believed migraine triggers and theRead More
Podcasts
Prescribing a Migraine-friendly Lifestyle
Patients are often surprised by how much a lifestyle change can improve the severity and frequency of their migraine attacks. Find out what kinds of changes, from diet to exercise, Dr. Fred Cohen recommends sharing with patients.
Patient Resources
Guide to Managing Migraine at Work
Download the American Migraine Foundation guide How to Manage Migraine at Work for tips on how to manage your migraine symptoms in the workplace. Read More
Meal Planning Toolkit | The American Migraine Foundation
Our free guide provides a wealth of information and tips to help you explore how food may affect your migraine. Read More
Guide to Healthy Sleep | The American Migraine Foundation
Enter your name and email for a free download of our guide to healthy sleep so you can improve your sleep to better manage your migraine.Read More
Nutraceuticals for Migraine | The American Migraine Foundation
Enter your name and email for a free download of our guide on nutraceuticals for migraine. Read More
Making even small changes to your diet can impact migraine. Learn from Dr. Alan Finkel how to discuss food triggers and dieting with your doctor.Read More
Learn about the various ways exercise can help you manage migraine. We also provide tips on starting an effective exercise regimen.Read More
See why yoga is considered one of the many non-medical ways people can fight migraine—and how to add it to your treatment plan.Read More
People with headache disorders have a 2-8 times greater risk for sleep disorders. Learn the connections between the two and how to regain healthy sleep.Read More
Real stories of workplace accommodations that have been made for people living with migraine, as told by Move Against Migraine group members.Read More
Mindfulness, defined as “paying attention in the present moment without judgment,” can help alleviate stress and, in some cases, prevent a migraine attack.Read More
There are various integrative and complementary treatments for migraine. Find out the different types and how they benefit you.Read More
S2: Lifestyle Tips for Migraine by Move Against Migraine: A Podcast by the American Migraine Foundation
Lifestyle factors such as adequate sleep and stress management can help empower people living with migraine. Our host Dr. Larry Newman sits down with Dr. Cynthia Armand to discuss the importance of incorporating lifestyle changes with medications and becoming an active participant in your own care. As people affected by migraine as well, they share their own tried and tested tips that can help make these lifestyle changes part of your routine.
Move Against Migraine podcast host Dr. Larry Newman is Vice Chair of the American Migraine Foundation and a neurologist at NYU Langone. Dr. Cythia Armand is a headache specialist and neurologist at the Montefiore Medical Center.
Additional Resources:
Managing Diet and Migraine
Migraine Management Techniques
Medical and Lifestyle Factors that Contribute to Migraine
Read More
One of the most effective things you can do to control migraine is to reduce your stress. Here are a few tips on how to do it.Read More
Learn all about the top 10 most common migraine triggers and the American Migraine Foundation's best tips for managing and preventing them.Read More
When the seasons and weather change, so can migraine triggers. Learn more about the seasonal impact of migraine and what triggers to look out for.Read More
Self-care is a great way of reducing migraine attacks. Learn of some migraine-friendly ways to practice this from the #MoveAgainstMigraine community.Read More
Numerous issues can prevent people from using prescription migraine medications. When these circumstances arise, many turn to non-pharmacological approaches to migraine management. While these options cannot typically relieve the pain of an active migraine, they do work to prevent migraine onset.Read More
Want to See Curated Content?
The First Contact – Headache in Primary Care program is always being updated as new information and resources become available. Please let us know what other resources you would find helpful.
Make A Suggestion