At-home migraine relief: Fact vs. fiction

Wed, 05 Mar 2025 07:55:57 -0600

Migraines are a part of life for many. From stress to dehydration to a woman’s menstrual cycle and even more serious issues such as a stroke, the headaches can pop up often. And they’re something you should know how to manage.

Amber Oberheim, APRN, a primary care provider at OSF HealthCare, says migraines can often be treated with ibuprofen (Advil is a common brand name) or naproxen (Aleve), plus lifestyle changes including better sleep. But, an online search will also yield plenty of non-medicinal, at-home remedies. Experts will remind you that these aren’t cure-alls. But it’s important to know what works and what doesn’t.

Myth vs. fact

A cold or warm cloth on the head and neck: Stick to cold, Oberheim says.

“One of the theories for why migraines happen is vasodilation, or increased blood flow to your brain,” Oberheim explains. “So we talk about using a cold compress over your eyes, on the back of your neck or at the top of your head. That cold sensation constricts blood vessels, thereby decreasing blood flow.”

Oberheim adds that there are even migraine caps that stay in the freezer until use. Those are available over the counter at retail outlets.
Rest and deep breathing: Oberheim says there’s no guarantee that your migraine will be gone when you wake up from a nap. But, she says rest and deep breathing can’t hurt. Take a break in a cool, dark room, and avoid screens and loud noises.
Caffeine: It’s good general advice to ingest caffeine in moderation for heart and mental health. But, Oberheim says a soda might help with that headache.

“We look at medications in Excedrin Migraine [pills]. Caffeine is one of them,” Oberheim says. “Caffeine has been proven to be effective sometimes in early management of migraine headaches.”
Supplements: There’s a lot to choose from in this aisle of the pharmacy. And experts warn that you should choose with provider guidance since supplements aren’t regulated like others under the eye of the United States Food and Drug Administration. However, Oberheim says some research has shown that taking vitamin B2 (also called riboflavin) and magnesium daily can help with the number of migraines.
Massaging your head: It’s a tactic some of us learned when we were kids. Massaging your temples (the area between your eyes and the top of your ears) could help with head pain.

“I don’t think there’s any data that would support that. I think it’s more of a comfort,” Oberheim says. “When you’re experiencing pain and you can have a sensation that’s not pain somewhere on your body, it might help lessen the pain.”

For example, Oberheim says when her patients are getting a blood draw through an IV in their elbow, a provider might scratch their upper arm (between the point of pain and the brain) to “confuse” the pain signal and lessen the discomfort. The same logic applies to rubbing your head during a migraine.
Taking a shower: It depends, Oberheim says.

“I could see if stress or muscle tension is creating a headache. Taking a warm shower or bath to relax might help,” Oberheim says. “However, if we’re thinking about a classic migraine with the theory of increased blood flow to the brain, taking a hot bath or shower might actually make it worse.

“It never hurts to try, but I think it’s going to be patient-specific,” she adds.

When in doubt

Oberheim says some people have a history of migraines and know how to manage them. But if the headaches suddenly increase in frequency or intensity, you should see a health care provider. Also, talk to a provider if you have questions about starting or changing at-home treatment. The provider can determine what works for you. You don’t want new medications to negatively interact with drugs you’re already on, for example.

“Often, a migraine can last for longer than a typical headache. It can be accompanied by symptoms like nausea, light sensitivity and noise sensitivity,” Oberheim says, warning of the dangers if migraines are not treated quickly. “There are certain types of migraines that can also affect your vision.”

Temporary decreased function of your limbs is another rare, but possible side effect, Oberheim says.

Learn more

Read more about how to spot and treat a migraine on the OSF HealthCare website.

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What's all the noise about?

Wed, 04 Dec 2024 14:00:00 -0600

Chris Workman, an audiologist with OSF HealthCare, loves to crank up his music from time to time. But since it’s his profession, he knows the dangers of loud noise and the lasting impact it can have on his hearing.

“It stirs some emotion. It gets you pumped up,” says Dr. Workman. “It gets you if you're working out, you might crank some music. Some folks will listen to music for other emotions. Maybe they're feeling a different way, and cranking a song will bring them out of that depression or whatever they're going through.”

But our listening habits could be doing more harm than good. Especially for younger people. A recent study published in the BMJ Global Health Journal cautions that between 670 million and 1.35 billion teens and young adults could face hearing loss due to unsafe habits.

The study analyzed data from 33 studies covering more than 19,000 people between the ages of 12 to 34. Researchers concentrated on two main sources of loud music exposure: Live music events and personal listening devices, like headphones and earbuds.

Listening to sounds at a decibel level of 85 or higher for long or a repeated amount of time can cause hearing loss.

Researchers found that 24% of young people listen to their devices at volumes high enough to harm their hearing. And 48% are exposed to unsafe sound levels at concert venues. Listening at high volumes can lead to noise-induced hearing loss as well as lifelong hearing problems like tinnitus, which is a constant ringing noise in your ear.

“Most of our kids are walking around with headphones in their ears. Athletes are walking around with headphones in their ears,” says Dr. Workman. “They're listening to something multiple hours a day, some of which is at loud levels, which, over time, is going to do some damage to their hearing.”

Dr. Workman doesn’t see many young adults in his practice. But when he does, he makes sure to give them a reminder about taking care of their hearing. Ongoing bad listening habits can lead to problems within 10 years.

“I'm all for listening to some loud music. I like it myself, but I know to do it in short durations, crank a couple songs, turn it down, or take them off. Give your ears a break,” he says. “That way you're letting those hairs in the inner ear come back and protect them from any permanent damage.”

Dr. Workman offers a few helpful tips. “Encourage them to wear hearing protection around loud noise. If they’re going to a concert don’t sit up front. Back away a little bit. If you do sit close, wear some hearing protection. You can get an inexpensive pair online for $20. That will help make the music sound normal at a reduced level.”

The best place to start is getting a hearing test to establish a baseline. Dr. Workman recommends testing for people as young as 20-25. In addition to loud noises, there are other reasons for hearing loss such as aging, genetics, certain medications and diseases like diabetes.

Dr. Workman says the bottom line is to use common sense when it comes to your hearing. Afterall, the last thing you want as a young person is to be fitted for hearing aids.

“A lot of us feel invincible at that age, so we tend not to take that message to heart,” he adds. “Hopefully they understand the potential damage they could do.”

For more information on audiology services, visit OSF HealthCare.

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At-home migraine relief: Fact vs. fiction

Interview clips

What's all the noise about?

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