Migraine Relief: 5 Common Mistakes to Avoid, Says Neurologist Dr Rahul Chawla

When a migraine hits, it feels less like a regular headache and more like a pressure cooker inside your skull. Dr Rahul Chawla, a neurologist at ISIC Hospital in Delhi, says the good news is that many of the things we do – often without thinking – can actually make the pain linger longer.

He recently took to Instagram to flag five classic blunders that people tend to repeat when they’re already in the throes of a migraine. Below is a friendly rundown of those slip‑ups and what you can do instead.

Mistake 1: Waiting too long to pop the pills. It’s tempting to ride it out, hoping the ache will pass on its own. Dr Chawla warns that migraine‑specific medicines work best when taken at the very first whisper of pain. Delay a few hours, and the headache can become stubborn, sometimes dragging on for two or three days and forcing you to reach for stronger painkillers later.

Mistake 2: Over‑relying on painkillers. The flip‑side of waiting too long is reaching for relief too often. “Taking regular analgesics every day can trigger Medication Overuse Headache – essentially, the drug becomes the problem,” he explains. Besides turning into a new headache, chronic overuse can irritate the stomach lining and stress the kidneys.

Mistake 3: Ignoring your sleep rhythm. Both a night of only a few hours and an indulgent Saturday‑morning lie‑in‑bed can set off an attack. Dr Chawla points out that consistency matters; aim for roughly seven to eight hours of quality sleep and try to keep your bedtime and wake‑time fairly steady.

Mistake 4: Not knowing your triggers. Everyone’s migraine triggers are a bit personal – for some it’s missing breakfast, for others a sudden dip in hydration, strong fragrances, chocolate, or even a shift in weather. Keeping a simple headache diary can help you spot patterns over time and let you sidestep the culprits before they strike.

Mistake 5: Thinking a migraine is “just a headache.” A migraine is a neurological event, not merely a sore head. It can bring nausea, visual disturbances, light and sound sensitivity, brain fog, or even vertigo. Recognising the full spectrum of symptoms helps you seek proper treatment rather than dismissing it as “just a bad day.”

Bottom line: early, appropriate medication, regular sleep, awareness of personal triggers, and a realistic view of what migraine really is can dramatically shrink the frequency and severity of attacks. As always, consult your own doctor for a plan tailored to you.