As the new year is often when people think about goal-setting, January is the perfect time to recommit to your health and what it takes to keep migraines at bay.
If frequent migraine pain left you sitting on the sidelines last year, take back control of your life in 2026 with the help of expert treatment and prevention offerings available at Integrated Neurology Services.
Our board-certified neurologists understand the frustration patients experience with chronic migraines. We specialize in custom care plans to quickly relieve existing migraine pain and to prevent the onset of additional migraines.
A migraine is a neurological condition that causes severe, throbbing pain usually on one side of the head. Migraines can also cause increased sensitivity to sounds, lights, and smells, often sending people into isolation to recover.
The root cause of migraines isn’t well understood, but your genetic history, brain chemistry, and hormone levels are known factors in this painful condition. Common migraine triggers include:
Because many factors that contribute to migraines have to do with your diet and lifestyle, there are things you can commit to doing this year to reduce your risk for additional migraine episodes.
One of the biggest steps you can take toward better migraine control is to start working with a migraine specialist. Integrated Neurology Services offers personalized migraine care to help you stay symptom-free and active.
Our neurologists can prescribe medications like Vyepti® that minimize pain when taken at the onset of a migraine. If you suffer from migraine episodes that occur 15 or more days in a month, you might also be a candidate for Botox®, an injectable treatment that targets the muscles that play a role in migraine pain.
Ask our team about infusion treatments available to address migraines and chronic headaches. We also offer educational resources so you can make lifestyle changes that make it easier to avoid known migraine triggers.
In addition to being consistent with migraine medications, it’s important that you also take necessary steps in your routine to prevent migraines from occurring. Here are five tips our specialists recommend for managing migraines in 2026:
Use a reputable app or keep a paper diary of your migraine experiences. This collective information can provide important insight into your migraine triggers and monitor how well your current treatments are working.
Skipping meals is known to trigger migraine episodes, so plan to eat three nutritious meals a day and drink water to stay hydrated. Also, be mindful of what foods you’re eating and note in your tracking apps or diary about how your body reacts so you can identify ingredients that contribute to your migraines.
Stress from work and other responsibilities can be a factor in the frequency and severity of migraine symptoms. If you often feel stressed, take a proactive step to learn relaxation techniques like breathwork and yoga to settle down your nervous system.
If your stress levels are very high or you feel weighed down by anxiety, consider working with a therapist.
Regular exercise is good for stress control and can also ease muscle tension that plays a role in migraine episodes. Engage in exercise daily to stay fit and choose activities you enjoy doing to make it easier to be consistent. Walking, swimming, and cycling are good low-impact choices for migraine prevention.
Going to bed and waking up at the same time every day of the week helps reset your circadian rhythm. This makes it easier to get 7-9 hours of sleep every night, which your body needs to recharge and repair itself.
Get into the habit of shutting down all electronics at least one hour before bedtime to prevent eye strain and support the calming of your nervous system.
Call Integrated Neurology Services today to schedule a migraine consultation with our experts to learn more about migraine treatment and prevention. You can also book an appointment online at one of our four northern Virginia locations.
