Introduction
Stress is an everyday factor that many modern people are accustomed to. However, stress can have a significant negative impact on people’s health. Migraine is one of the diseases that is a consequence of stress (Stahl & Goldstein, 2019). Reducing the stress factor, along with improving a healthy lifestyle, has a positive effect on the body (Brain, 2021). However, in the case of migraines, several effective strategies are needed that will allow pain to be relieved quickly, both in the home environment and in the workplace.
Affected Organ
Migraine is a neurological disease, the main symptom of which is severe headache. The cerebral cortex, thalamus, and partly the brain stem are responsible for pain sensations (National Cancer Institute). The mechanism of migraine may involve changes in the level of substances in the brain, such as the production of serotonin. It is not completely known what exactly causes a migraine, but it is obvious that frequent and severe pain negatively affects brain activity, while the quality of a person’s daily life is significantly reduced.
Symptoms and Treatment
Migraine symptoms may appear several days before the onset of an immediate attack, but not all people are able to recognize them. Therefore, sharp pain, photophobia, nausea, and other unpleasant migraine symptoms can come as a surprise. A migraine headache can last up to several days if no action is taken to control the pain. Some people turn to conventional medicine to combat migraine such as acupuncture (The Meridian System, 2011). There is no universal treatment for migraine, but most of the discomfort is usually relieved by painkillers.
Strategies for Home Environment
The first strategy to help manage migraine symptoms at home is to create a safe space where one can live through the pain. When symptoms appear, it is necessary to break away from current affairs, go to a quiet place with good soundproofing, and turn off the lights. The second self-help strategy is thermotherapy, which involves applying different temperature compresses to the head and neck. Changes in temperature help immediately relax the muscles and get an additional analgesic effect (Larasati et al., 2022). Once the acute pain has been relieved, a third strategy should be turned, which is keeping a migraine diary, which will allow one to recognize the most common migraine triggers.
Strategy for the Workplace
Not every job provides an opportunity to retire to a separate quiet and dark room and survive a migraine attack there. If the situation allows, it is necessary to resort to thermotherapy, alternately cooling and relaxing areas of the head and neck. If there is no way to distract from current affairs at work, one needs to drink a cup of coffee since caffeine often helps to reduce headache severity (Nowaczewska et al., 2020). A permanent escape from a migraine is not possible, and it is necessary to change the lifestyle by finding migraine triggers with the help of a diary and trying to avoid them.
Conclusion
Migraine is a disease that can be triggered by stress. To relieve migraine symptoms at home, one needs to go to a pre-equipped, quiet, and dark place without unnecessary irritants. Thermotherapy can help relieve pain symptoms and relax tense muscles. A migraine diary will help one avoid future attacks by avoiding the triggers. Since it is impossible to completely get rid of migraine, it is necessary to find ways to improve the quality of life in order to reduce the number of attacks.
References
Brain, M. (2021). How your immune system works. How stuff works. Web.
Larasati, A., Marito, P., Himawan, L. S., & Tanti, I. (2022). Migraine and temporomandibular disorder triggered by stress-induced bruxism: a case report. Makassar Dental Journal, 11(3), 286-290. Web.
National Cancer Institute. (n.d.). Brain. SEER Training Modules. Web.
Nowaczewska, M., Wiciński, M., & Kaźmierczak, W. (2020). The ambiguous role of caffeine in migraine headache: From trigger to treatment. Nutrients, 12(8), 1-16. Web.
Stahl, B., & Goldstein, E. (2019). A mindfulness-based stress reduction workbook, 2nd ed. New Harbinger Publications.
The meridian system. (2011). A world of Chinese medicine. Web.