The latest congress (28/06-02/07/01) of the International Headache Society in New York has underscored the importance of a good hygiene of life for migrainous persons.

In several studies, it has been shown that for example, they are more sensitive to stress factors, of whichever origin, and should thus strive to avoid or fight them. It has been proven that avoiding stress is an excellent natural means of reducing the number and the intensity of migraine crisis.

To have a relaxing physical activity (such as walking or cycling, for example), every week (for an hour minimum) should be part of all migrainous people way of life. And let's not forget that such an activity is also very good for your heart !

It is also very important to learn to take breaks regularly during work : at the chronobiological level, such breaks allow to limit the progressive increase in stress levels. Or stress appears in numerous studies as one of the main triggering factors. A person susceptible to migraine should also learn to relax.

Independently of the method used, relaxation can really help decrease the frequency of migraine crisis. To learn relaxation techniques can appear fastidious but it is worth the effort as a decrease of up to 50% in the number of crisis has been observed in patients practicing relaxation.

Eat regularly, without jumping meals and respecting simple nutritional rules.

To sleep well is extremely important : it's better to know your sleep patterns and adapt to them than to use sleeping pills. It is quite easy for one to know whether he/she is a " morning " or " evening " person, and to respect this cycle which is natural. One should also avoid oversleeping in the mornings or very late nights.

Avoid heavy drinking and/or smoking if you want to avoid crisis (even if it is passive smoking : the migrainous person should be able to obtain respect from his entourage : migraine is not a shameful illness).

In fact, anything which can improve one's life hygiene is beneficial for migrainous people, even more than was thought.

Lastly, it is important to encourage a good knowledge of the illness through a better dialog between the practitioner and the patient ; it has been proved that well informed patients are more able to control their crisis, and are thus less afraid due to knowing what is happening and what to do : which medicine to take, when and how, the dangers of overdosing in painkillers, awareness of triggering factors to avoid. The patient's role in his own therapy is very important.