Don't bear it! The migraine that makes people "worse than death", the coping methods are explained at once

Friends who have experienced migraine know that it may not sound like a serious illness, but once it occurs, it can be extremely painful.

Every time a migraine strikes, “my temple feels like it’s about to explode”, “it feels like someone is drilling my temple with a screwdriver”, “I feel my blood vessels are expanding and throbbing in pain”, it makes me restless and unable to sleep…I can only endure it silently, and I have become a “pain machine”.

According to statistics, about 1.04 billion people worldwide suffer from migraine. The annual prevalence of migraine in China is as high as 9%. The annual treatment cost exceeds 299.4 billion yuan. The severe pain it brings seriously affects the quality of life of patients.

Today we have invited Liu Shuiping, chief physician of the Pain Department of Hunan Occupational Disease Prevention and Treatment Institute (Occupational Disease Prevention and Treatment Institute affiliated to University of South China), to talk to us about migraines .

1. What is migraine?

Migraine is a common chronic neurovascular disease, characterized by recurrent, unilateral or bilateral severe pulsating headaches (often occurring on one side of the head). During an attack, the person has a splitting headache and cannot sleep or eat. In severe cases, nausea, vomiting, photophobia, and phonophobia may also occur, which is extremely painful. Suffering from migraine for a long time can easily lead to symptoms such as anxiety and depression.

2. What are the causes of migraine?

1. Heredity: Migraine is hereditary, and about 60% of patients have a family history.

2. Endocrine: Women are prone to migraines during menstruation due to changes in estrogen levels, and the symptoms may be alleviated after menopause.

3. Diet: Alcohol, caffeine, MSG and other foods may be triggers of migraine. Patients should limit alcohol consumption, control caffeine intake, reduce the use of MSG, and eat more fresh fruits and vegetables and meat.

4. Drugs: Oral vasodilators, contraceptives, hormone replacement drugs and frequent use of analgesics can easily cause migraines.

5. Mental and emotional: High psychological stress, depression or drastic mood swings can all trigger migraines.

6. Environment and lifestyle habits: Environmental factors such as climate change, strong light, noise, as well as bad lifestyle habits such as excessive exercise and irregular sleep may all be triggers of migraine.

3. How to break the curse of migraine?

1. Drug pain relief

Follow your doctor's advice and choose nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen, diclofenac, or acetaminophen to relieve mild to moderate migraines.

Antiemetic and prokinetic drugs such as domperidone and metoclopramide can treat symptoms associated with migraine.

Triptans, ergotamines, etc. should be used after consulting a doctor, and be aware of the risk of drug overdose headache.

2. Nerve block therapy

For patients with refractory migraine, neuromodulation techniques such as greater occipital nerve block or stellate ganglion block may be used.

Greater occipital nerve blocks provide quick relief from headaches and are simple and inexpensive to perform.

Stellate ganglion block achieves precise puncture under ultrasound guidance, has definite efficacy, few complications, and can effectively reduce the frequency of migraine attacks, improve pain severity, and shorten pain duration.

3. Other treatments

①Physical therapy (massage, hot compress, cold compress) can relieve migraine.

② Cognitive behavioral therapy (relaxation training, meditation) helps to regulate the psychological state and reduce migraine attacks.

③Biofeedback therapy and acupuncture also have certain therapeutic effects.

How to prevent migraines

1. Adjust your lifestyle: maintain a regular schedule and get enough sleep; avoid triggering foods such as cheese, red wine, chocolate, and high-caffeine foods; do moderate exercise such as walking, swimming, or yoga.

2. Adjust your mentality : learn ways to cope with stress, such as meditation and deep breathing; keep your emotions stable and avoid drastic fluctuations.

3. Pay attention to the environment: avoid strong light and noise stimulation; pay attention to keeping warm or cooling down, and adapt to climate changes.

4. Seek medical attention promptly: Use preventive medications under the guidance of a doctor; in case of frequent or severe attacks, seek medical advice promptly.

Hunan Medical Chat Special Author: Liao Jiaxin, Hunan Occupational Disease Prevention and Treatment Institute (Occupational Disease Prevention and Treatment Institute affiliated to University of South China)

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(Edited by ZS)