Avoid Common Thanksgiving Migraine Triggers

Common Thanksgiving Migraine Triggers and How to Avoid Them!

The last few months of the year should be filled with joy and happiness, delicious food, family gatherings, and cozy weather, reminding us of what’s really important in life. But when you suffer from migraines, it’s easy to miss out on the fun and festivity.

For migraineurs, many of the things that people love the most about the holidays – comfort food, scented candles, decorative lights, etc. – can also set off a migraine attack.  The good news is that knowing what might trigger an attack can give you an upper hand to help fend off your migraines this holiday season.

There are three major migraine triggers to look out for during Thanksgiving:

Stress

Most migraine sufferers know that it’s not uncommon to get a headache at the end of a particularly tough day.  In fact, according to the American Headache Society, 4 out of 5 migraineurs recognize stress as a trigger.  Experts are still not entirely sure why stress triggers migraines. However, some hypothesize that it might have something to do with the hormones that the body secretes when it’s under stress.

If stress is a big trigger for you, it is essential to avoid taking on too many roles for Thanksgiving and make sure to ask for help. Cooking dinner for guests without help, volunteering to bring too many dishes to the party, or even traveling during the days leading up to Thanksgiving are all common stressors during the holidays.

Food & Drink Triggers

Thanksgiving is one of those holidays that revolves around food – every November, people suddenly start craving turkey, gravy, and everything pumpkin spice. However, when you suffer from chronic migraines, it’s important to pay attention to what and how much you eat and drink.

Here are frequent migraine triggers that may be lurking on the Thanksgiving table this year:

• Caffeine
• Alcohol
• Chocolate
• Spicy foods
• Cured meats
• Aged cheese
• Salt
• Pickled foods

Weather Changes

Do your migraines usually occur at the same time each year? If they do, you might be sensitive to temperature and pressure changes. Weather and temperature affect everybody differently; in some people, certain barometric changes can cause chemical imbalances that affect how the brain responds to pain signals. In other cases, bright lights, extreme cold, and dryness or humidity can trigger or worsen migraines.

To avoid weather-related migraine attacks this Thanksgiving, keep an eye on the weather forecast so you’re not caught off-guard and can prepare ahead. For example, plan to stay indoors during extremely cold or windy days; drink plenty of water to keep your sinuses moisturized; and use warm clothing even if you’re going to be outside for a short time.

3 Tips for getting through Thanksgiving migraine-free

In addition to keeping an eye out for any potential triggers, the following tips can help you stay migraine-free during Thanksgiving.

Remember Holidays Past

Did you get a pounding headache or migraine last Thanksgiving? Try to remember what you did, ate and drank that day, so you can avoid it this year. Maybe it was all that cheese you ate or the extra glass or two of wine. Perhaps you know that a family member’s perfume always triggers a migraine, in which case you can politely ask them to refrain from using it this year. Whatever the case may be, use the previous year’s pain to your advantage this year, and plan accordingly.

Delegate

If you are hosting this year’s Thanksgiving dinner, it’s crucial to start delegating tasks early on. Asking friends and family members to bring along a food contribution will keep you from stressing out and potentially getting a migraine on the day of the dinner. Also, remember to ask for help whenever you need it. If you feel a migraine coming up, don’t be afraid to leave someone in charge and take a break before it turns into a full-blown attack.

Keep Your Medications Handy

Whether you’re traveling or spending Thanksgiving at home, stock up on your preventive and abortive migraine medications before Thanksgiving if you’re running low. A daily nutritional supplement like MigreLief can be of great help during the holiday season; just choose one of the three MigreLief’s everyday formulas, and take one tablet twice a day for daily maintenance. In addition, many people keep MigreLief-NOW on hand, as an “as-needed” alternative when fast-acting support is needed!

Wishing you a wonderful migraine-free Thanksgiving holiday!