Lifestyle Modification for Migraine

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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

Mindfulness, defined as “paying attention in the present moment without judgment,” can help alleviate stress and, in some cases, prevent a migraine attack.

There are various integrative and complementary treatments for migraine. Find out the different types and how they benefit you.

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 

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.

Learn all about the top 10 most common migraine triggers and the American Migraine Foundation's best tips for managing and preventing them.

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.

Self-care is a great way of reducing migraine attacks. Learn of some migraine-friendly ways to practice this from the #MoveAgainstMigraine community.

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.

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