Dr Sarah Jarvis gives us her advice
Elle Macpherson, Ben Affleck, Holly Willoughby, Marcia Cross and Serena Williams are jsut a handful of stars that suffer from migraines - plus, they're just a few of the millions that they blight everyday.
Despite the debilitating impact, migraines remain undiagnosed and untreated in at least 50 per cent of patients.
Marcia Cross, the Desperate Housewive actress, explains: "I really watch stress, and my trigger foods, and all the things I need to do to stay Migraine-free. I just cannot stand that pain. For me, I just have to go home and get in a dark room and wait for it to pass. But waiting for it to pass still involves some pain."
Serena Williams says: "You want to just crawl under your bed and stay there. I know it doesn't look like it affected my tennis, but, especially in the sun, playing with a migraine makes it worse. In Australia it's not that easy. I remember playing Martina Hingis in Sydney, and I was just out of it."
Dr Sarah Jarvis, practising GP, media medic and women's health spokesperson, shares some of her simple tips to keep you clear headed, and help you to avoid the common migraine headache triggers.
Eat for an easy life
You may enjoy a cuppa and a chocolate bar come 3pm, but these can do more harm than good. Certain foods and drinks are well known headache and migraine triggers.
As well as chocolate, other foods such as ice-cream, cheese and citrus fruits are famed for their unforgiving headache-inducing qualities. Drinks to watch out for include alcohol and anything caffeinated.
At the other end of the spectrum, not eating regularly can also bring on migraines.
One of the best ways to discover what’s causing your migraine or headache is to keep a migraine diary. This will help you spot patterns and deduce what might be your trigger. There are plenty of migraine diary templates available online, imigranrecovery.co.uk.
Forecast your future
Sudden changes in weather can commonly trigger migraines and headaches, and many people can experience some form of discomfort such as a ‘stuffy head’. You might find that high humidity, rapid changes in temperature or thunderstorms can bring them on.
Although we’d all love to be able to change the weather at will, it’s never going to be an option. But, you can be prepared. If troublesome looking weather is forecast make sure you have some treatment with you in advance. Beware of continually popping painkillers though, as if you take them more than twice a week, they can actually make your headaches worse. Opt for preventative treatments which treat the cause, rather than treating just the symptoms.
For migraine suffers, Imigran Recovery treats the cause of migraines, as it contains sumatriptan, which is a specific drug that constricts the blood vessels to stop the pain of migraine attacks. You can get it over the counter at your pharmacy (after consulting with your pharmacist), so you can keep it in your bag just in case.
Don't strain about it
Although almost all forms of exercise are good, and can help lessen the frequency or painfulness of headaches and migraines, strenuous exercise (including sex) can be a trigger.
To avoid this, stick to a regular exercise routine and keep away from exercises, such as lifting weights, which can cause strain. Yoga can be particularly helpful as it helps the body release tension and relax.
Find your Zen 
Sudden changes in stress hormones cause rapid releases of neurotransmitters, causing blood vessels to constrict and dilate. This may be why you can get a tension headache, or migraine, when you are stressed, or when you quickly relax for the weekend.
Everyone has their own stress reliever, whether that’s meditation, a jog round the block or a relaxing bath (scented candles optional). Stress levels can build up rapidly, so make sure you regularly relieve your tension throughout the week to help keep your mind calm and your moods steady. If you start feeling anxious, try taking a few deep breaths or a short walk.
Sit up straight
Hunching over your desk or a poor standing posture can cause even more tension to build up in the back, neck and shoulders. Not only is this a major culprit in causing back pain, but it could also trigger throbbing head pains.
Always make sure you sit up straight, using a back support if necessary. Your chair should be adjusted so that your feet are flat on the floor, your back is supported, your screen is eye level and your wrists and forearms are straight, with your elbows to the side of your body.
Make sure you take regular breaks from your desk, even if it is just to get a glass of water.
For more serious problems with your posture, you could consider seeing a physiotherapist or Alexander technique practitioner.
Smell a rat
Certain smells or particularly heavy fragrances can trigger a headache or migraine.
If you start suffering shortly after doing housework, wearing a certain perfume or washing your hair, it could be the scent that is the problem.
Avoid strong perfumes and use fragrance-free products as much as possible. Ensure that you have a good flow of air in a room, using a fan if you can’t open the windows.
Sleep well
Burning the candle at both ends, doesn’t just leave you a bit groggy, it can cause a headache or migraine attack. But it’s not just too little sleep that can be the problem, too much sleep also breaks a routine.
Try maintaining a regular sleeping pattern, even at weekends. If you have trouble with sleeping, avoid caffeine or exercising just before going to bed and try some simply relaxation techniques, such as conscious deep breathing.
See the solution
Eye strain can commonly cause headaches, particularly if you spend a long time looking at computer screens. Other symptoms also include eye discomfort, headaches, itchy eyes and difficulty in focusing.
Make sure you regularly get your eyes tested and take regular breaks from computer screens. While thinking, try looking into the distance or out of a window.
Elle Macpherson, Ben Affleck, Holly Willoughby, Marcia Cross and Serena Williams are jsut a handful of stars that suffer from migraines - plus, they're just a few of the millions that they blight everyday.
Despite the debilitating impact, migraines remain undiagnosed and untreated in at least 50 per cent of patients.
Marcia Cross, the Desperate Housewive actress, explains: "I really watch stress, and my trigger foods, and all the things I need to do to stay Migraine-free. I just cannot stand that pain. For me, I just have to go home and get in a dark room and wait for it to pass. But waiting for it to pass still involves some pain."
Serena Williams says: "You want to just crawl under your bed and stay there. I know it doesn't look like it affected my tennis, but, especially in the sun, playing with a migraine makes it worse. In Australia it's not that easy. I remember playing Martina Hingis in Sydney, and I was just out of it."
Dr Sarah Jarvis, practising GP, media medic and women's health spokesperson, shares some of her simple tips to keep you clear headed, and help you to avoid the common migraine headache triggers.
Eat for an easy life
You may enjoy a cuppa and a chocolate bar come 3pm, but these can do more harm than good. Certain foods and drinks are well known headache and migraine triggers.
As well as chocolate, other foods such as ice-cream, cheese and citrus fruits are famed for their unforgiving headache-inducing qualities. Drinks to watch out for include alcohol and anything caffeinated.
At the other end of the spectrum, not eating regularly can also bring on migraines.
One of the best ways to discover what’s causing your migraine or headache is to keep a migraine diary. This will help you spot patterns and deduce what might be your trigger. There are plenty of migraine diary templates available online, imigranrecovery.co.uk.
Forecast your future
Sudden changes in weather can commonly trigger migraines and headaches, and many people can experience some form of discomfort such as a ‘stuffy head’. You might find that high humidity, rapid changes in temperature or thunderstorms can bring them on.
Although we’d all love to be able to change the weather at will, it’s never going to be an option. But, you can be prepared. If troublesome looking weather is forecast make sure you have some treatment with you in advance. Beware of continually popping painkillers though, as if you take them more than twice a week, they can actually make your headaches worse. Opt for preventative treatments which treat the cause, rather than treating just the symptoms.
For migraine suffers, Imigran Recovery treats the cause of migraines, as it contains sumatriptan, which is a specific drug that constricts the blood vessels to stop the pain of migraine attacks. You can get it over the counter at your pharmacy (after consulting with your pharmacist), so you can keep it in your bag just in case.
Don't strain about it
Although almost all forms of exercise are good, and can help lessen the frequency or painfulness of headaches and migraines, strenuous exercise (including sex) can be a trigger.
To avoid this, stick to a regular exercise routine and keep away from exercises, such as lifting weights, which can cause strain. Yoga can be particularly helpful as it helps the body release tension and relax.
Find your Zen
Sudden changes in stress hormones cause rapid releases of neurotransmitters, causing blood vessels to constrict and dilate. This may be why you can get a tension headache, or migraine, when you are stressed, or when you quickly relax for the weekend.
Everyone has their own stress reliever, whether that’s meditation, a jog round the block or a relaxing bath (scented candles optional). Stress levels can build up rapidly, so make sure you regularly relieve your tension throughout the week to help keep your mind calm and your moods steady. If you start feeling anxious, try taking a few deep breaths or a short walk.
Sit up straight
Hunching over your desk or a poor standing posture can cause even more tension to build up in the back, neck and shoulders. Not only is this a major culprit in causing back pain, but it could also trigger throbbing head pains.
Always make sure you sit up straight, using a back support if necessary. Your chair should be adjusted so that your feet are flat on the floor, your back is supported, your screen is eye level and your wrists and forearms are straight, with your elbows to the side of your body.