Lifestyle Modification for Migraine

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.

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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

Managing Diet and Migraine

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

Exercise and Migraine

Learn about the various ways exercise can help you manage migraine. We also provide tips on starting an effective exercise regimen.Read More

Yoga for Migraine Treatment

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

Sleep Disorders and Headache

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

Workplace Accommodations for Migraine

Real stories of workplace accommodations that have been made for people living with migraine, as told by Move Against Migraine group members.Read More

The Importance of Mindfulness for Migraine

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

Integrative and Complementary Migraine Treatments

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

Stress and Migraine

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

Top 10 Migraine Triggers and How to Deal with Them

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

Seasonal Migraine Triggers

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

How Do You Practice Self-Care?

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

Non-Pharmacological Approaches to Migraine Management - Facebook Live Recap

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

Lifestyle Changes for Migraine Management

Learn an easy way to remember some simple lifestyle changes to help manage migraine.Read More

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