Have you ever lived with someone who suffered from migraines? According to the Journal of Therapeutic Advances in Chronic Disease, a migraine is the most common disabling brain disorder. In fact, migraines are the third most common disease in the world, affecting one in seven individuals, of which approximately 70 percent (n=27,800) of migraine sufferers are women. If you live with Chronic Migraine, affecting nearly 3.3 million Americans, then you experience 15 or more headache days every month, with eight of those days with migraines lasting four hours or more.

My mom suffered from Chronic Migraine. Throughout my childhood, a migraine would force my mom to curl up in bed multiple times a week. Whenever she got a migraine attack, it would affect the whole family. My sisters and I didn’t really understand why we had to tiptoe around the house or why plans would often get canceled. My parents loved to take us on family vacations. However, traveling was not easy for my mom as it often presented challenges, such as stress and change in environment, which could trigger a migraine attack.

In fact, Chronic Migraine has been shown to be a greater burden on life than other headache conditions. My mom’s experience wasn’t isolated. In a recent study, some people with Chronic Migraine said that they had reduced enjoyment while on vacation because of headache while others had to cancel their vacation altogether.

If you live with Chronic Migraine, it’s important to stay informed and find ways to help manage the symptoms, which may include lifestyle changes and prescription treatments. And if your lifestyle includes travel, the following tips may be helpful to keep in mind so your trip can go as smoothly as possible.

Understand the impact. Living with Chronic Migraine is no easy task. Not only does it lurk around more than half your month, Chronic Migraine symptoms can be severe and may include the following: nausea and/or vomiting, sensitivity to light and sound, as well as changes in vision, sensation, and speech.

Pack your headache diary. It’s easy to lose track of time and divert from your routine schedule when you’re on the road. Maintaining a headache diary can be a quick and effective way to track your headache and migraine days while you’re traveling.

Check the essentials. Migraines can come on quickly. Packing the essentials (e.g., water, headphones, eye mask, pillow, etc.) may help you cope with the symptoms when a migraine strikes on-the-go. If you’re traveling by plane, make sure you pack it in your carry-on bag, not your checked luggage. If your luggage somehow gets delayed or lost, you won’t have the added stress of trying to locate what you need in an unfamiliar city.

Schedule downtime. Traveling can be tiresome and overwhelming. Give yourself a break and plan some downtime. Try to make the first and last days of your vacation more of a “do nothing” type of day, so that you can fully recover before returning to your daily life.

Plan ahead to ensure that things go smoothly. Planning a trip in advance can help you avoid unnecessary stress and anxiety during your travels. In the world of travel, more knowledge can mean less stress. A little research can help you travel more comfortably and safely and be prepared for the unexpected.

While you may not be able to completely eliminate the chances of having migraines while traveling, I hope that these tips can help to prevent or at least manage your symptoms if they do manifest.

If you think you may have Chronic Migraine, I encourage you to visit a doctor (find a specialist here). A doctor will be able to make a proper diagnosis and work with you to choose the right treatment plan. You can also find a lot of helpful information at MyChronicMigraine.com. 

Disclosure: This post is sponsored by Allergan.