Medication is a proven way to treat and prevent a geriatric migraine. However, medication makes up only a small part of the whole story. It is equally important for you to take good care of yourself while also understanding how to cope with migraine when it comes. The current lifestyle choices that support good health can help lower the frequency and severity of your migraines. Here are some steps that you can take to ward off the pain.

Finding a Calm Environment

As soon as you experience migraine pain, take a break and step away from whatever activities that you are doing if possible.

Temperature Therapy: Apply cold or hot compresses to your neck or head. Ice packs can numb the affected area to dull the pain sensation. Hot packs can relax tense muscles whereas warm showers can also do the same trick.
Turn Off Lights: Migraines often increase light and sound sensitivity. Try relaxing in a quiet, dark room and get some sleep if possible.
Take Caffeine: Take caffeine in small amounts as it is known to relieve the early stages of migraine pain. Take note that too much caffeine can lead to withdrawal headaches much later.

Getting Quality Sleep

Migraines often keep us awake or cause us to wake up in the middle of the night. Migraines are also caused by the poor quality of sleep. Here is what you can do to get better quality sleep:

Relax and Unwind: Determine the activities that can help you relax such as participating in wellness programs or something simple like reading a good book.
Establish Regular Bedtime: Go to bed at the same time every day even on weekends. If you take daytime naps, keep them to less than an hour per day.
Avoid Trying too Hard to Sleep: The harder you try to fall asleep, the more awake you will feel. If you cannot fall asleep, do a quiet activity that will make you feel tired.
Minimize Distractions: Designate your bedroom only for sleep and intimacy. Do not work in your bed or hog on your mobile gadget before bedtime.
Assess Medications: Some medications may contain caffeine and other stimulants which may interfere with your sleep.

Eating Wisely

Practice good eating habits to prevent migraines. Try the following basic steps:

Do Not Skip Meals: Fasting can increase the risk of migraines.
Stay Consistent: Have the same mealtimes every day.
Avoid Migraine-Triggering Foods: Chocolate, aged cheese, alcohol or caffeine can all trigger migraines. Try eliminating them from your diet and see if you still experience migraine pain.

Keeping Fit and Active

Doing physical activities can help your body to release certain chemicals that can stop pain signals from being transmitted to your brain. These same chemicals also help lessen depression and anxiety which are both conditions that can further worsen your migraine pain. Obesity also increases the risk of chronic headaches. Keeping fit and active can help you maintain a healthy weight which can help in better migraine pain management.