You have a full day planned, but thanks to an intense, throbbing pain in the left side of your head, you feel like the only thing you want to do is retreat to a dark room.
Pain that only impacts one side of the head is a classic sign of a migraine. It’s possible to experience a migraine that causes pain on both sides of the head, but this is less common than one-sided migraines.
Data indicates that 30 percent of adults who’ve experienced a headache in the past year have experienced a migraine headache.
If you’re experiencing left side migraines, here’s what you need to know.
Common Symptoms of Left Side Migraines
Aside from pain concentrated in a single side of your head, there are other common symptoms associated with migraines. These symptoms include:
Increased sensitivity to light, sound, and smells
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Visual disturbances (like flashing spots or sparkles)
- Weakness on one side of your body
- Tingling or numbness
- Fatigue
- Loss of appetite
- Hot flashes or chills
- Dizziness
- Blurred vision
- Tenderness around the scalp
The Cause of Left Side Migraines
During a migraine, a mechanism in the brain is triggered to release pain-inducing substances around the blood vessels and nerves in your head.
The triggers that bring about a migraine cause you to feel pain at a specific location. Whatever is triggering your migraine causes pain on the left side of your head.
Many people find that certain things consistently trigger a migraine. If you frequently experience left side migraines, it’s likely that the same things are causing your headaches.
When you experience a migraine, write down the conditions leading up to your pain. Some of the most common migraine triggers are:
- Stress
- Hormonal changes that occur throughout the menstrual cycle
- Alcohol (especially red wine)
- Smoking
- Missing a meal
- Aged cheese
- Foods with nitrates (like hot dogs and lunch meat)
- Chocolate
- Caffeine
- Flashing lights
- Strong odors
- Changing weather conditions
- Lack of sleep
- Dehydration
While migraines aren’t always hereditary, if you or one of your parents experiences migraines, you’re more likely to suffer from them.
Steps to Treat and Prevent Left Side Migraines
You can decrease the frequency and duration of your left side migraines by taking steps to prevent them. Treat your migraine at the first symptom to minimize your discomfort.
Begin by examining your notes about your migraines to identify what’s triggering your headaches. Then, take steps to avoid that trigger. Some things, problematic foods and beverages, are fairly easy to avoid. Other triggers, like stress and lack of sleep, are trickier to remedy.
Research indicates that individuals who meditate are less likely to have intense migraines; this is likely due to the impact of meditation on stress levels. Regular exercise also lowers your likelihood of experiencing a migraine.
At Root Logic, we offer a Headache and Migraine defense supplement. This supplement is formulated to lower inflammation in your body by activating certain hormones. It also combats the effects of stress and fatigue on your body.
Many people find that caffeine helps reduce their left side migraine pain. Caffeine narrows your blood vessels, reducing your blood flow and lowering your pain levels. However, if you experience frequent migraines, avoid consistently relying on caffeine to manage your migraines. Over time, your blood vessels will get used to the caffeine. When you don’t drink caffeine, they’ll enlarge, potentially triggering a headache.
Go to a quiet, dark room and lie down or meditate to reduce your pain levels.
The Bottom Line
Left side migraines are debilitating, but there are steps you can take to reduce their frequency and intensity. By making lifestyle changes to avoid your migraine triggers and treating a migraine as early as possible, you can reduce the impact of left side migraines.
At Root Logic, we have a supplement designed to help you prevent migraines and decrease their intensity when they do occur. Our headache and migraine defense capsules use a natural formula designed to decrease inflammation in your body, reduce stress and fatigue.
