Migraine: Picture this, you’re away for the day in a hot air balloon with your family. Bright sun, a loud engine, the smell of exhaust, a jerking ride in the wind – just the day your kids dreamed of. Suddenly, you feel a Migraine attack coming on. You dig through your backpack – and no meds. Short of bumming two aspirin from a fellow tourist, what can you do? How to get rid of a Migraine fast before it’s in full swing?

5 tips for instant Migraine relief give you the best chance for keeping that baby Migraine attack from turning into a roaring beast.

COLD:

Apply cold or ice packs to your head and neck. Or in a pinch, a can of cold soda. Any waitress or food service worker can get you a plastic bag with ice, or find a vending machine for a can.

Apply to the back of the neck and the forehead. This keeps your blood vessels from inflaming and causing pain. I’ve even been given ice packs while at the ER, proof that ice is one of the best ways to get rid of a Migraine.

HEAT:

Heat up your hands and feet to keep the blood flowing. Run your hands under warm water.

Find the closest restroom and wash your hands until they are warm again. Even your feet can go under the faucet if that’s at all practical.

INHALE:

Breathe fresh air deeply. Get away from smells and smoke and get the coolest, freshest air you can find.

Inhale slowly for 8 counts; hold for 8 counts; exhale slowly for 8 counts. Repeat up to 10 times. This gets more oxygen to your brain.

LIQUIDS:

Drink at least 16 ounces of water, as much as you can handle. There’s a good chance you’re dehydrated, a controllable Migraine trigger, and this alone can resolve it.

If water isn’t available, Gatorade or Powerade is a good substitute, but soda, coffee, and tea aren’t. Because of the high sodium and caffeine levels in these drinks, they actually further dehydrate you.

LIGHTS OUT:

If a dark room or shade isn’t available, shade or cover your eyes. Again, this protects you from light and visual disturbances which can add to your activated triggers. Photophobia, or sensitivity to light, is a very common Migraine symptom. With photophobia, light actually hurts and it makes Migraine pain worse.

If your Migraine attack was triggered by dehydration then coffee, tea, and soda will make it worse, not better. Further, the caffeine and Excedrin Migraine puts you at risk for a rebound cycle that will produce the same symptoms 8-24 hours later.

It’s best to stick with plain water when treating an attack. Or choose a drink that will soothe your stomach, like peppermint tea.

Remember these  tips for instant Migraine relief, and you’ll be feeling better in no time: Cold, Heat, Inhale, Liquid, and Lights off. Replace panic with CHILL.