Do you often suffer from migraines? (Attached are mitigation methods)

What is a migraine?

Migraine is a common neurological disorder affecting approximately 1.04 billion people worldwide. The United States is also a hotspot for migraines, with approximately 15% of Americans suffering from migraines. Relevant research data shows that the 1-year prevalence of migraine in the United States is 17.2% for women and 6.0% for men; the probability of women suffering from migraines is significantly higher than that of men, about three times that of men. This may be related to women's physiological characteristics, such as changes in hormone levels and other factors. Women usually develop the disease during adolescence, are prone to attacks during menstruation, and reduce or stop attacks during pregnancy or after menopause.

Migraine not only brings physical pain to patients, but also has a serious impact on patients' quality of life and work efficiency, leading to loss of productivity. Long-term recurring migraine will bring a heavy economic burden to patients and their families, and it will also put great pressure on social medical resources. It is one of the major problems of global public health.

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Currently, there are several main theories regarding the pathogenesis of migraine:

Abnormal vasoconstriction and dilation

Traditional vascular theory believes that in the early stages of a migraine attack, intracranial blood vessels contract first. This vasoconstriction may be caused by abnormal neuromodulation, resulting in reduced regional cerebral blood flow. For example, it can be found through examinations such as cerebral angiography that during the migraine aura stage, major blood vessels such as the middle cerebral artery will temporarily narrow in diameter.

The blood vessels then dilate, which is an important cause of headaches. The dilation of blood vessels causes the nerve fibers around the blood vessels to be stretched and stimulated, which in turn releases some inflammatory mediators, such as bradykinin, prostaglandins, etc. These substances can stimulate pain receptors on the blood vessel walls and cause headaches.

Cortical Spreading Depression (CSD)

CSD is a wave of depolarization of neurons and glial cells that propagates through the cerebral cortex at a speed of 2 - 6mm/min. This phenomenon is thought to be closely related to migraine aura. For example, when CSD occurs, there is a transient depression of neuronal activity in the cerebral cortex, accompanied by changes in local cerebral blood flow.

In experimental animal models, induction of CSD can produce changes in neurological function and blood flow that resemble migraine aura. Furthermore, CSD can activate the trigeminal neurovasculature, leading to the generation and transmission of pain signals.

Genetic factors

Numerous studies have shown that migraine has a clear genetic predisposition. Approximately 60% of people with migraines in the United States have a family history of them. Several genes are thought to be involved in the onset of migraines. For example, mutations in some ion channel genes (such as CACNA1A, etc.) may affect neuronal excitability and neurotransmitter release.

These genetic abnormalities can make individuals more susceptible to migraine triggers. If you have a family member with migraines, your relatives are at a significantly increased risk of developing migraines. Furthermore, different types of migraine (such as migraine with aura and migraine without aura) may be associated with different combinations of genes.

Endocrine and metabolic factors, etc.

The incidence of migraine in women is significantly higher than that in men, which is closely related to women's endocrine characteristics. Fluctuations in estrogen levels during the menstrual cycle can influence the onset of migraines. For example, a drop in estrogen levels before menstruation may trigger migraines.

Because migraine is relatively common in the United States and has a greater impact on people's lives, the United States attaches greater importance to medical resource investment and research on migraine. There are many professional medical institutions and scientific research teams dedicated to the research and treatment of migraine, and they are constantly exploring more effective treatment methods and prevention strategies. The United States also leads the way in drug research and development, constantly launching new migraine treatments.

At present, there are mainly the following treatment methods:

Medication:

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs: For mild to moderate migraine attacks, commonly used drugs such as acetaminophen, ibuprofen and other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs can relieve pain. These drugs are relatively safe and have fewer side effects, but they may have a certain irritating effect on the gastrointestinal tract.

Triptans: For moderate to severe migraine attacks, triptans are a common treatment option, such as zolmitriptan, rizatriptan, and sumatriptan. They can quickly relieve migraine symptoms by constricting blood vessels, but may have side effects such as dizziness, nausea, and heart palpitations.

Ergotamine drugs: Ergotamine and dihydroergotamine are also drugs used to treat acute attacks of migraine, but you need to pay attention to their dosage and side effects when using them. Overuse may lead to serious adverse reactions.

You can also take the following measures to alleviate it:

1. Maintain a fixed schedule and try to go to bed and get up at the same time every day. For example, going to bed around 10:30 pm and getting up around 6:30 am every day to ensure 7-8 hours of adequate sleep will help stabilize the body's biological clock and reduce the frequency of migraine attacks. Because lack of sleep or poor sleep quality is one of the common triggers of migraines.

2. Massaging the head and neck can relieve muscle tension and relieve migraines. You can use your fingers to gently massage your temples, scalp, sides of the neck and other areas in a circular motion for 3-5 minutes each time. You can also ask a professional masseur for massage, focusing on the suboccipital muscles, trapezius muscles and other muscle groups related to headaches.

3. Increase fluid intake: Maintaining adequate fluid intake is important to relieve migraines. Drink at least 1.5 - 2 liters of water every day to avoid dehydration, which can trigger migraines. Especially in hot weather, after exercise or after drinking alcohol, you should pay more attention to replenishing water.

Avoid trigger foods: Certain foods may trigger migraines, such as foods containing tyramine (aged cheese, smoked fish, red wine, etc.), caffeinated beverages (coffee, tea, cola, etc.), foods containing nitrites Processed meats (hot dogs, ham, etc.). Identifying and avoiding these foods that may trigger migraines can help reduce the number of attacks.

4. Supplement nutrients: Some nutrients may help relieve migraines. For example, magnesium regulates blood vessel and nerve function, and food sources include nuts, green leafy vegetables, whole-wheat bread, etc. Riboflavin (vitamin B2) has also been found to have a certain effect in preventing migraines, which can be obtained by consuming milk and eggs. Waiting for food to refill.

5. Regular exercise can improve blood circulation and reduce stress, thereby relieving migraines. Suitable exercises include walking, jogging, yoga or swimming. For example, walking for about 30 minutes 3 to 4 times a week can increase the body's metabolism and blood circulation. But be careful to avoid excessive exercise, as excessive fatigue may also trigger migraines.

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