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How to Prevent Migraine Halos

Severely painful migraines are sometimes preceded by "warning" disturbances referred to as migraine aura. These disturbances can include a phenomena called "halo," a radiant glowing that appears around lights or other objects and impairs vision. Many migraine suffers take the appearance of the halo as a cue to get medication or engage in other preventative treatment before the full onset of the migraine. For others, the halo itself is the main problem as it is never accompanied by a migraine. Either way, the halo effect can be prevented with lifestyle changes and certain therapies and/or medications.

Things You'll Need

  • Diary
  • Sunglasses
  • Water
  • Beta-blockers, calcium-channel blockers, tricyclic anti-depressants, and anti-convulsants
  • Doctor
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Instructions

  1. Instructions

    • 1

      Keep a diary of your halo experiences. There are many possible triggers of the halo effect and keeping track of yours can help to identify its exact cause(s). In your diary write down when each halo starts (date and time), what you ate and drank in the preceding 24 hours, how much sleep you got the night before, what you were doing at the onset of the halo, how long it lasted, and how you got it to stop.

    • 2

      Control your lighting. Bright, flickering, and flashing lights can set off migraine halos. Dim the lights in your house and try to limit or eliminate your time spent at the computer or watching television. Wear sunglasses when you go outside.

    • 3

      Adjust your diet. Skipping meals can cause halos. And when you do eat meals, keep in mind that the following are common triggers of migraine halos: alcohol (especially beer and red wine), caffeine, aspartame (sugar substitute), aged cheeses, chocolate, monosodium glutamate (MSG), salty foods, and processed foods. Drink water regularly to avoid dehydration.

    • 4

      Relax more. Reducing stress can play a big role in controlling your halos. Make sure you are getting the proper amount of sleep. Try relaxation techniques, meditation, or self-hypnosis to get you into a relaxed state.

    • 5

      Take medications. Beta-blockers, calcium-channel blockers, tricyclic antidepressants. and anti-convulsants are helpful in preventing migraine halos. Talk to your doctor about this option.

    • 6

      Quit smoking. Smoking contributes to migraine halos in some cases.

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