Migraines often occur in change. Migraineurs must therefore adapt their daily life to avoid discrepancies and smooth out the variations as much as possible.
When the headache is so strong that it paralyzes you, the fear is to see the crisis intensify, drag on or repeat itself. Hence the importance of identifying the stimuli that may have triggered it, in order to avoid them. However, the rules vary depending on the nature of a headache. And it is above all not a question of multiplying the prohibitions… « I always explain to my patients that if they are migraineit is because their brain is too sensitive to changes, like that of a small child », says Anne Ducros, neurologist at the Montpellier University Hospital Center.
« Seizures can come from fluctuations in stress, sleep, sun exposure and many other factors, adds Jérôme Mawet, neurologist at the University Hospital of Lariboisière-Fernand-Widal (Paris). I often tell the sick that they would have fewer problems living in a monastery! »
Take care of your body
It is useless, however, continues the doctor, to impose such a change of life on oneself: « On the other hand, it is necessary to try to smooth out the variations as much as possible. » For example by discarding restrictive diets, with a balanced diet, neither too fatty nor too sweet, and always roughly the same meal times. But also by drinking water regularly, « at least a liter and a half a day, advice which is also valid for all », specifies Professor Ducros. Or even by not making the big difference in terms of sleep time between the week and the weekend.
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What about the dreaded headaches of cluster headache? « We do not know how or why this disease can pass from an episodic form to another, chronic, which leaves almost no respite to the patient. », warns the neurologist. But research has identified with certainty a triggering factor: alcohol, also pointed out by many migraine sufferers. « Outside of crisis periods, patients suffering from this disease in its episodic form can drink it without any problems. », adds Dr. Mawet. « But it is imperative for them to abstain as soon as they feel this period coming back. »
For pain as for migraine, cigarettes are strongly discouraged: tobacco indeed increases the risk of cardiovascular disease and these constitute a contraindication to triptans, life-saving drugs against pain. On the other hand, regular physical activity is highly recommended to combat migraines such as tension headaches.
This last lighter headache, which we can all experience, is indeed likely to become chronic when a sedentary lifestyle and lack of physical activity are added to overwork, stress and anxiety. For all its victims, and also for migraine sufferers, « we recommend practicing not intense but endurance activities, such as jogging or swimming two to three times a week. The goal is to increase tolerance to effort, while combating anxiety-depressive disorders », details Anne Ducros.
Against stress and anxiety, the practices of relaxation, meditation or cardiac coherence are highly recommended, mobile applications allowing you to get started. Above all, insists Christian Lucas, neurologist at the Lille hospital center and current president of the French Society for the Study of Migraines and Headaches, « the migraine sufferer must allow himself moments of letting go, of pleasurable activities ». In sum, « we have to listen to our body, summarizes Sabine Debremaeker, president of the association La Voix des migraineurs, even if it is often very difficult, so much we feel guilty ».