Thinking about the holidays may bring to mind smiling faces, nights by a warm fire, delicious holiday treats, endless presents and time away from your daily routine. But for some people, the holidays can cause stress with the last-minute shopping, hours of cooking, late nights of celebration, schedule changes and travel delays. And for migraine sufferers, this change in routine can sometimes mean more migraines.

To help keep the holidays relaxing and enjoyable, be sure to plan wisely. Use these tips from Ortho-McNeil Neurologics, Inc., to help prevent migraines this season:

Tip #1: Remember to pack your migraine medication.

Everyone has done it - you've just opened your luggage on a holiday trip, and you realize you've forgotten your toothbrush, or worse, your migraine medication.

A few weeks prior to your hectic schedule, make a list of your migraine medications and any other medications you take. If you take a daily migraine preventive medication, determine how much you will need for the entire trip. If your supply is running low, visit your pharmacist or call your doctor for a refill.

Using your list, check off your medications as you pack them in their original bottles. Keep your migraine medication close at hand, either in your purse or an overnight bag. If you're flying, it's a good idea to carry medications with you on the plane, but just don't forget that they need to be properly labeled with the original prescription. That way, you won't need to worry about a migraine if your luggage takes a different trip than you do. Always keep your prescription numbers and pharmacy phone number with you in case you lose your medication.

Tip #2: Avoid your migraine triggers.

Special meals and celebrations with rich food and beverages are all part of holiday fun, but when it comes to your food triggers, proceed with caution. Alcohol, processed meats, aged cheeses and caffeine can trigger migraines in some individuals. Know your triggers and avoid "splurging" on these foods and beverages.

Tip #3: Maintain your daily lifestyle.

Following healthy lifestyle habits is important for migraine patients. Each day, migraine sufferers should make a goal to fit in eight hours of sleep, 30 minutes of exercise and a little quiet time to help manage stress.

During the holidays, maintaining this healthy lifestyle may be tough. Make an effort to stick to your sleep schedule while away from home. Incorporate exercise into your varied routine by carrying groceries and shopping bags, taking the stairs in shopping centers, delivering presents to your neighbors on foot and taking advantage of a nearby gym when away from home.

When you're in an unfamiliar place or in a crowded store, even the small stuff, like making a wrong turn, can seem big. Consider stress-reducing techniques, like deep breathing, or sit down to arrange your thoughts. And keep your spirit of adventure alive - that wrong turn could point you in the direction of a holiday sale.

Tip #4: Prepare for the unknown.

Planning for the busiest time of the year means facing the unknown. Careful preparation can help relieve some of the stress, but you should be prepared in case of an attack. If you have particular items, like an ice pack or an eye pillow that help alleviate migraine pain, bring them with you for your holiday travel. This can help you feel more comfortable if you have a migraine attack in an unfamiliar place.

Don't let your migraines take away from the fun and excitement of your vacation time with family and friends. A little bit of planning and organization can go a long way to help prevent migraines. Keep these ideas in mind as you plan your holiday season and you'll help leave the worry and frustration of your migraines at home.

Tip #5: Keep a migraine diary.

The holiday season may be your busiest time of the year, and one of those times when you just can't stick to a normal routine. Keeping a diary is a good way to track the details of your headache and identify your own individual migraine triggers. A diary can also reveal personal migraine patterns.

Keeping a diary only takes a few minutes a day. When you begin recording your migraines in a diary, make sure to include a few notes, such as the frequency of your migraines, when they start and stop, where the pain is, what you've eaten, what activities you've missed, how many hours you slept, how many hours you've been in bed due to the attack, your stress level and what you were doing at the time your migraine began. Also, be sure to record which medications you took to ease the pain and how well they worked. You can even track your migraines on your holiday to-do list; you know you won't be throwing those away.

After the holiday season, schedule an appointment with your health care professional to talk about your migraines. Your diary will be a useful tool to help guide your conversation and help determine which treatment is right for you.

Johnson and Johnson
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