Migraine frequency can be reduced by more than 50% through medication and lifestyle adjustments

As a neurology nurse, I often encounter patients suffering from migraines. They ask me with red eyes why the painkillers are not working?

1. Migraine is not a common headache. It is a "circuit failure" in the brain.

Migraine is a primary neurological disorder, not just a "bad headache."

- Typical symptoms:

(1) Unilateral or bilateral throbbing pain (like the heart beating in the brain), usually moderate to severe.

(2) Nausea, vomiting, fear of light, and fear of sound.

(3) About one-third of patients will experience "premonitory symptoms" (flashing lights, bright spots, visual field loss, hemiplegia, etc.).

Differences from common headaches:

Common headache: usually bilateral dull pain. No accompanying symptoms. Relieved by rest.

Migraine: throbbing pain, often unilateral. Nausea, photophobia, aura. Lasts 4 to 72 hours, worsened by activity.

2. Four major misunderstandings

1. “Migraine is just a symptom of a headache, just bear with it.”

Wrong! Migraine has a clear physiological mechanism, and long-term tolerance may lead to chronicity (attacks ≥ 15 days per month).

2. “Taking lots of painkillers will solve the problem”

Excessive reliance on analgesics (e.g., taking ≥10 days per month) may trigger drug-induced headaches, forming a vicious cycle.

3. “Only women get it”

The incidence rate in women is three times that in men, but male patients also need to pay attention (especially related to the risk of stroke).

4. “Migraines cannot be prevented”

With medication and lifestyle adjustments, the frequency of attacks can be reduced by more than 50%.

Music therapy and acupoint decompression exercises are the specialties of the Department of Neurology of the Second Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University. By participating in music activities and doing acupoint decompression exercises, patients can relieve headaches, insomnia and anxiety and enhance their confidence in recovery.

3. Catch the "clues" of migraine

It is recommended to keep a headache diary to help doctors make accurate diagnoses:

(1) Time of onset: Is it related to the menstrual cycle, staying up late, or stress?

(2) Triggers: red wine, cheese, chocolate, bright light, smell?

(3) Symptom details: Is there any visual abnormality? What is the degree of pain, location, duration, and what factors relieved it?
Golden rule: Medication works best in the early stages of an attack, don’t just push yourself!

4. In the following situations, please seek medical attention immediately!

- Sudden change in headache pattern (e.g., never nauseous → frequent vomiting).

- The first onset occurs after the age of 50, or is accompanied by fever, convulsions, and confusion.

- Headache that is sudden and severe like a "thunderbolt" (beware of subarachnoid hemorrhage).

- Daily medication is ineffective and attacks occur more than 8 days per month.

Although migraine is difficult to cure, it is possible to "reconcile with it" through scientific management. As a nurse, I want to tell you: don't blame yourself, it's not your fault; don't give up, the professional medical team will always be your backup. The next time a headache strikes, remember that you have mastered the weapon to deal with it - knowledge is the best painkiller.

□Zhao Ziwen, a nurse in the Department of Neurology, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University