Prevention
Migraine prevention best practices
Lifestyle and care-plan habits that can reduce migraine burden without blaming the person who has migraine.
Prevention is not about proving that migraine is your fault. Migraine is a neurologic disease. Prevention means reducing attack burden where possible and making treatment easier when attacks still happen.
The steady-rhythm basics
- Sleep: keep wake and sleep times as consistent as possible. Too little sleep and too much sleep can both be triggers for some people.
- Meals: eat at regular times and avoid skipping meals if that is a pattern for you.
- Hydration: stay well hydrated, especially during heat, travel, exercise, illness, or vomiting.
- Caffeine and alcohol: keep caffeine consistent and moderate if you use it. Too much caffeine or withdrawal can be a problem for some people. Alcohol, especially wine, can trigger attacks in some people.
- Movement: build regular exercise gradually. Sudden intense exertion can trigger some attacks, but regular activity can support overall migraine management.
- Stress management: relaxation training, mindfulness, cognitive behavioral therapy, biofeedback, or therapy may help some people.
Use a diary without becoming controlled by it
A diary should help you spot patterns and communicate with clinicians. It should not become a source of blame. Track attack days, symptoms, medication days, possible triggers, menstruation if relevant, sleep, meals, hydration, stress, and disability.
Complementary approaches
Some complementary approaches have limited evidence for migraine prevention, including magnesium, riboflavin, coenzyme Q10, feverfew, acupuncture, relaxation techniques, and biofeedback. Evidence quality varies, and supplements can interact with medicines. Butterbur has raised serious liver-toxicity concerns.
Discuss supplements and non-prescription approaches with a clinician, especially for children, pregnancy, liver or kidney disease, bleeding risk, or multiple medications.
Know when lifestyle is not enough
If attacks remain frequent or disabling despite good routines, ask about preventive treatment. A preventive plan is not a failure. It is standard migraine care for many people.
Sources
- Mayo Clinic: Migraine diagnosis and treatment
- Mayo Clinic: Migraine symptoms and causes
- NHS: Migraine
- NIH NCCIH: Complementary health approaches for headache and migraine
Migraine Manager is a personal health journal, not a medical device. It does not diagnose or treat any condition. Always follow your clinician's advice for diagnosis, medication, and treatment decisions.
Key terms
People Also Ask
Related migraine questions
Common migraine triggers?
Commonly reported migraine triggers include sleep changes, skipped meals, stress, hormones, alcohol, caffeine changes, light, smells, and weather. Read the guide.
Tracking and appointment prep?
What to record in a migraine diary and how to turn it into a useful clinician conversation. Read the guide.
Food, hydration, and caffeine?
Skipped meals, dehydration, alcohol, and caffeine changes can affect migraine for some people, but broad restriction is rarely the first step. Read the guide.
Acute vs. preventive migraine medication?
Acute treatment is used during attacks; preventive treatment aims to reduce how often attacks happen or how disabling they are. Read the guide.