For people who experience migraines, travelling can sometimes feel like a challenge. Changes to your usual routine, long journeys, disrupted sleep, dehydration, skipped meals and stress can all potentially contribute to a migraine attack.
That does not mean you need to avoid travelling. With some preparation and a little planning, there are practical steps you can take to reduce the likelihood of an attack and make sure you are prepared if one does occur.
Prepare Before you Travel
If you regularly experience migraines, it is worth thinking about how you normally manage an attack before you leave home.
Make sure you have enough of any medication you normally use to manage your migraines for the duration of your trip. Keep medication in your hand luggage when flying rather than packing it in your checked baggage, so that it remains accessible throughout the journey.
If you take prescription medication, check that you have enough for your entire trip and keep it in its original packaging where possible. It can also be useful to carry a copy of your prescription or a letter from your doctor, particularly if you are travelling with several medications.
Check your Medication is Permitted at your Destination
Before travelling, check whether any of the medicines you take are subject to restrictions in the country you are visiting. Some medicines that are commonly prescribed or available without a prescription in Ireland or the UK may be controlled or require additional documentation in other countries.
This is particularly important if your migraine treatment includes prescription or controlled medicines. Requirements can vary between countries and may include limits on the quantity you can bring, a doctor’s letter, a copy of your prescription or prior approval from the relevant authorities.
Do not assume that because you can legally take a medicine at home, you can automatically bring it into another country. Check the requirements for your specific destination well in advance of travelling and allow enough time to obtain any necessary documentation or approval.
Travel insurance is another important consideration. Make sure your policy provides appropriate medical cover for your destination and that you disclose any relevant pre-existing medical conditions when arranging your insurance.
If your migraines are frequent, severe or have recently changed, speak to your GP or healthcare professional before travelling. They can advise you on whether your current treatment is appropriate and whether any additional preparation is needed.
Try to Maintain your Usual Routine
One of the difficulties with travelling is that your normal routine can quickly disappear. Early flights, late nights, time-zone changes and irregular meals can all make it harder to maintain the routine your body is accustomed to.
Changes in sleep patterns can be particularly relevant for people with migraine. Both too little and more sleep than usual can be associated with attacks, while jet lag can further disrupt your normal sleep pattern.
Where possible, try to maintain reasonably consistent sleeping and waking times, particularly during the days around your journey. If you are crossing time zones, gradually adjusting your routine before departure may also make the transition easier.
You should not feel that you need to follow your routine perfectly. The aim is simply to avoid making several major changes at once.
Don’t Skip Meals
Long journeys can make it easy to miss a meal, particularly if you are rushing to an airport or travelling through the night. For some people with migraine, going too long without eating can increase the likelihood of an attack.
Consider packing a few suitable snacks in your hand luggage so that you are not completely reliant on finding food at a particular time. This can be particularly useful during delays or long journeys.
If you already know that certain foods affect your migraines, you can plan around these. However, it is important to remember that migraine triggers vary significantly between individuals, and a food that affects one person may have no effect on another.
Stay Hydrated
Dehydration can contribute to migraine attacks for some people, making staying hydrated particularly important when travelling. This is especially relevant when travelling to a hot or humid destination or spending a long period on an aeroplane.
Take opportunities to drink water regularly throughout your journey and continue doing so once you arrive. If you are spending time in a hot climate, you may need to pay particular attention to your fluid intake.
Alcohol can also be a trigger for some people with migraine, so be aware of your own tolerance, particularly if you are already tired or dehydrated.
Be Prepared for Your Journey
A small migraine travel kit can make dealing with an attack much easier if one starts while you are travelling.
Depending on your usual symptoms and treatment, this could include:
- Your usual migraine medication
- Any prescribed anti-sickness medication
- A bottle of water
- Snacks
- Sunglasses
- An eye mask
- Earplugs or noise-cancelling headphones
- Any other items that you know help you manage an attack
Keep the items you are most likely to need somewhere easily accessible rather than buried at the bottom of a suitcase.
If you are flying, keeping your medication in your cabin baggage means you can access it during the flight and reduces the risk of being separated from it if your checked luggage is delayed.
Consider Your Surroundings
Travel can expose you to environments that are quite different from those at home. Bright sunlight, loud noises, strong smells, heat and changes in weather can be relevant for some people with migraine.
This does not mean you need to avoid these things completely. Instead, think about how you can manage them.
For example, sunglasses can be useful in bright conditions, while an eye mask and earplugs can help create a quieter, darker environment if you develop symptoms during a journey.
If you are visiting a particularly hot destination, plan breaks from the heat and make sure you have access to fluids and somewhere cool to rest.
What if you Develop a Migraine While Travelling?
If you recognise the early signs of an attack, try to act promptly rather than attempting to push through your plans.
Take your usual migraine medication according to the instructions you have been given and drink some water. If possible, move somewhere cool, quiet and away from bright light. Resting or sleeping can help some people during an attack.
If you are travelling by plane, train or coach, tell a member of staff if you are feeling particularly unwell. They may be able to help you find somewhere more comfortable or assist if you need medical attention.
Once you arrive at your destination, don’t feel that you must continue with your plans simply because you are on holiday. Resting and allowing yourself time to recover may help prevent an attack from becoming more difficult to manage.
Know Your Own Migraine Pattern
There is no single list of migraine triggers that applies to everyone. In many cases, an attack may be the result of several factors occurring together rather than one specific trigger. For example, a late night followed by an early flight, a missed breakfast and dehydration may collectively increase the likelihood of an attack.
Keeping a migraine or headache diary can help you identify patterns in your own symptoms. Recording factors such as sleep, meals, caffeine, alcohol, stress, weather and your surroundings may help you understand what tends to coincide with your attacks.
This can also be useful information to discuss with your GP or healthcare professional if your migraines are becoming more frequent or difficult to manage.
When Should you Seek Medical help?
Most people who experience migraine will be familiar with their usual symptoms. However, a headache that is completely different from your normal migraine, particularly if it comes on suddenly and is extremely severe, should not simply be assumed to be a migraine.
You should seek urgent medical attention if you experience a sudden, severe headache or a headache accompanied by symptoms that are unusual for you, such as significant confusion, loss of consciousness, weakness or difficulty speaking.
If you are unsure whether your symptoms are consistent with your usual migraine, seek medical advice.
Travel Doesn’t Have to be off the Table
Living with migraine does not mean you have to give up travelling. The key is to understand your own symptoms, prepare for the practical challenges of a journey and avoid unnecessary disruption to the routines that help you stay well.
Taking your medication with you, eating regularly, staying hydrated and allowing yourself time to rest can make travelling more manageable. A little preparation before departure can also give you greater peace of mind once you are away.
If you are planning to travel and have questions about managing an existing medical condition, speak to your GP or a travel health professional before you go.