Headaches come and go! These are the causes of migraines! Here are some tips to relieve them

Maybe I smelled some perfume.

Seeing the poor homework done by the child

I heard the sound of a drill going on upstairs.

Not sleeping well, playing with mobile phone, drinking coffee

…

Migraines come and go

It feels like a screwdriver drilling into your brain

The hoe is digging at the back of the head

A dozen people are having a party in their heads

People who have not experienced migraines

I don’t understand this kind of pain!

About Migraine

Migraine is a common neurological disease characterized by recurrent, mostly unilateral, moderate to severe throbbing headaches that usually last for 4 to 72 hours and are often accompanied by symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, photophobia and phonophobia.

Migraines can occur at any age , and most often they first occur during adolescence. After adolescence, the incidence rate in women is significantly higher than that in men, and peaks around the age of 40. Specific smells, emotions, light, sounds, menstruation, and other factors can all trigger migraines.

Repeated attacks of migraine can lead to white matter lesions and decreased cognitive function, and are comorbid with anxiety, depression, sleep disorders, etc. Some studies have also found that migraine may increase the risk of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases.

The 4 stages of a migraine

01 Prodromal stage

Before a headache strikes, you may experience discomfort such as fatigue, lack of activity, change in appetite, recurrent burping, and a stiff neck.

02 Premonitory period

Aura refers to the "alarm" that appears in the body before a headache occurs, which usually lasts 5 to 30 minutes, and generally does not exceed 60 minutes.

Image source: Photo Network

The most common is visual aura, which manifests as unilateral flashes, dark spots or water ripples, etc. In simple terms, it means that the eyes cannot see clearly and feel that there are spots or apertures in front of the eyes.

03 Headache period

After the physical warning above, the most painful "headache period" comes. The typical headache of migraine is unilateral throbbing pain, but there are also bilateral or full head pain, which is mostly moderate to severe, with throbbing pain as the most prominent feature.

When a migraine attacks, there are often symptoms such as loss of appetite, nausea, and vomiting. There is also increased sensory perception, which manifests as sensitivity to light, sound, and smell, and a preference for dark and quiet environments. A small number of patients will experience dizziness, orthostatic hypotension, irritability, difficulty expressing speech, memory loss, and inattention.

04 Recovery period

Most patients' symptoms can be relieved by rest, but most patients may also experience fatigue, exhaustion, irritability, restlessness, inattention, scalp tenderness or other discomfort.

Common triggers of migraine

● Endocrine factors: menstruation, ovulation, oral contraceptives, hormone replacement therapy;

● Dietary factors: alcohol, meat rich in nitrite, MSG, chocolate, cheese, irregular diet, etc.;

● Psychological factors: tension, stress release, anxiety, worry, depression;

● Environmental factors: bright light, flickering and other visual stimuli, smells, weather changes, high altitudes;

● Sleep-related factors: insufficient sleep, excessive sleep;

● Drug effects: nitroglycerin, cilostazol, reserpine, hydralazine, ranitidine, etc.;

● Other factors: head trauma, strenuous physical activity, fatigue, etc.

What to do when you have a migraine

1. Maintain a healthy lifestyle

Ensuring adequate sleep, exercising regularly, and quitting drinking are all effective ways to prevent it.

2. Avoid migraine triggers

You can keep a diary to record the triggers of each migraine, such as diet, sleep, exercise and psychological factors, and try to avoid such triggers if possible. At the same time, avoid foods and drugs that can aggravate headaches, such as caffeine, alcohol, tobacco, etc.

3. Drug treatment

Attention! Never take medicine randomly! Long-term excessive use of painkillers may cause the painkillers to become less and less effective, the duration of headaches will become longer and longer, and even lead to medication overdose headaches. In addition, the use of multiple painkillers may also put a burden on organs such as the liver and kidneys.

Image source: Photo Network

The correct way is to go to the hospital for consultation. The doctor will prescribe medicine based on the severity of the headache, accompanying symptoms, previous medication, and the patient's individual situation.

4. Others

During the headache period, reduce activity and rest in bed as much as possible. You can listen to some soothing music to keep your body and mind relaxed.

Acupuncture and massage have certain effects on migraine. Massage of different acupuncture points on the head, face and neck can often relieve pain. But please note that it is best to go to a regular Chinese medicine hospital or a Chinese and Western medicine clinic.

I said, "Head, can you please stop hurting?"

Head: "If I don't love you, no one will love you"

Statement: This article is a medical-related educational popular science article. It does not involve specific treatment methods or medical behaviors and cannot replace hospital visits.

References

[1] Chinese Medical Association Neurology Branch, Chinese Society of Research Hospitals Headache and Sensory Disorders Committee, Dong Zhao, et al. Chinese Guidelines for the Diagnosis and Treatment of Migraine (2022 Edition)[J]. Chinese Journal of Pain Medicine, 2022, 28(12):881-898.

[2] Li Shunwei, Li Yansheng, Liu Ruozhuo, et al. Chinese guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of migraine[J]. Chinese Journal of Pain Medicine, 2011, 17(2):65-86. DOI:10.3969/j.issn.1006-9852.2011.02.001.

Content Production

Edit: 100% sweet

Map: Eastern Zhou Dynasty