Covid-19 has made travel this year an activity which most of us have been unable to enjoy. With potential solutions to the pandemic on the horizon (at least partial solutions), the prospect of travelling next year is looking far more likely.
For those that want to travel, the risk of migraine attacks ruining their trip can make them think far more than just twice about whether or not to go, but hopefully following these travel tips will help you to travel with the minimum amount of pain.
Plan Ahead
Stress is a major migraine trigger. In fact, it has been listed as the top migraine trigger in multiple studies of migraine sufferers. With this is mind, keeping stress levels as low as possible is vital, and planning in advance will help to do that.
Three things you can do when planning ahead are:
- Pack your bags at least a day in advance so you’re in no rush and have plenty of time to fetch any last-minute essentials.
- Plan leeway into your travel schedule so you can be sure to get to the airport or train station etc in plenty of time.
- Work downtime into your itinerary so you have time after you arrive to recover from the journey before you start doing things.
Make A Migraine Travel Kit
If a migraine strikes while you are travelling, you don’t want to be rooting through your suitcase trying to find what you need – especially if that suitcase may be in the hold of a plane! Pack an emergency kit you can keep on you at all times so you’re always ready no matter when or where a migraine may hit. This kit may include:
- An eye mask and/or sunglasses to guard against harsh and flickering lights
- Your migraine pain medication
- Earplugs
- A heat/cool pack
- A snack
- Water
- A note explaining your condition in English, but also in the language of the area you are travelling to.
Adapt in Advance
Disrupted sleep patterns can be another major migraine trigger for sufferers, so if you’re travelling to somewhere with a different time zone, start to adapt to it in advance. Try moving your day by half an hour each day ahead of your trip. If you don’t have long before you go, try moving it by an hour. Getting your body used to waking up earlier/later than it’s used to by small degrees is much kinder than moving your day by four hours all at once!
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