Consider this Migraine 101.
It’s the first week on campus — you’re meeting new people, there are no parents to enforce a curfew, you can eat whatever you want from the the dining hall. It can be a heady time. The only problem? Some habits of the New Kid on Campus could increase the chance of developing a migraine.
If you think you might suffer from migraines, be sure to visit your doctor to get properly diagnosed. But in the meantime, here’s a look at five on-campus habits to ditch before you head to campus this fall.
Eating Junk Food.
One of the first choices some freshmen may make when faced with a dining hall is to chow down on anything greasy, salty or sugary. We get the appeal of the unlimited, 24-hour dining hall, but some junk food like processed lunch meats and snacks containing MSG, are known triggers for some people. While no student should have to go totally without treats, reaching for healthier alternatives, such as almonds or a hard-boiled egg might actually help avoid migraines instead.
Cramming.
Pulling an all-nighter to cram for that big biology exam is practically a rite of passage for co-eds. But for some migraine sufferers, changes in sleep patterns can be a migraine trigger. Thinking you’ll catch up on sleep over the weekend? Sleeping in just on the weekends may trigger a “weekend headache” in some (sorry to break it to you!) Instead, try to managing your study time and maintaining a consistent sleep schedule, which can help prevent migraines.
