How long will it take for the migraine to get better?

Written by Zhang Hui
Neurology
Updated on September 23, 2024
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Migraine is very prevalent among young and middle-aged people, with sufferers usually experiencing unilateral, though sometimes bilateral, pulsating headaches. These may accompany a sensitivity to light and sound, along with significant nausea and vomiting. Typically, migraines resolve within 4-72 hours, meaning recovery generally occurs within three days. If it doesn’t resolve within three days, it’s referred to as a status migrainosus.

During an acute migraine episode, it is important to rest, ensure adequate sleep, consume more fruits, and take non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs for treatment. Specific pain relievers such as triptans may also be used, and concurrent complications should be addressed. Furthermore, if migraines recur frequently, prophylactic treatment with medications like beta-blockers may be considered.

(Please consult a professional physician before taking any medication.)

Other Voices

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Written by Zhang Hui
Neurology
1min 4sec home-news-image

Can migraine be treated with hot compress?

Patients with migraines are not advised to use heat compresses, as the heat may promote the dilation of blood vessels both inside and outside the skull, possibly worsening the migraine or even triggering an attack. Some people may experience migraines when taking hot baths, which is based on the same principle. Migraines are primarily caused by a dysfunction in the constriction and dilation of blood vessels, resulting in severe pain that is typically moderate to severe in intensity. The pain may be accompanied by nausea, vomiting, a pulsing sensation in the blood vessels, and clinical symptoms such as photophobia (sensitivity to light) and phonophobia (sensitivity to sound). In terms of treatment, it is important to rest and provide the patient with a quiet environment, free from loud noises and bright lights. Appropriate pain relief medications should be taken, and if nausea and vomiting occur, antiemetic medications should be administered as well. Most symptoms will quickly subside, but it is important to focus on prevention.

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Written by Feng Ying Shuai
Traditional Chinese Medicine
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Can migraines be massaged?

For some primary migraines clinically, we can alleviate clinical symptoms, reduce the intensity of pain, and decrease the frequency of pain through massage, which has certain clinical effects. How do we perform the massage? Generally, we select some massage areas according to the patient's clinical symptoms and characteristics, and also choose some acupoints based on differentiation. For example, for forehead pain, we usually start by selecting local acupoints, including Jingming, Sizhukong, Yangbai, and Touwei acupoints, then massage Baihui and Tongtian acupoints. For distant points, we choose to massage acupoints such as Houxi and others to alleviate the clinical symptoms of migraines.

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Written by Zhang Hui
Neurology
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What are the symptoms of migraines?

The main symptoms of migraines include the patient experiencing photophobia and phonophobia, meaning a sensitivity to light and sound respectively. These stimuli can significantly worsen the headache. Patients often prefer to rest or sleep in a quiet environment. The second major symptom is a pronounced pulsating headache on one side, where the patient can feel a palpable throbbing of the blood vessels. Additionally, patients may also experience significant nausea and vomiting. Some migraine sufferers may have visual disturbances, such as seeing flashes of light or observing moving water-like visuals. At times, migraine patients may also experience episodes of vertigo, referred to as cluster migraines. Therefore, it is evident that migraine symptoms are quite common and need to be recognized and treated accordingly.

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Written by Zhang Hui
Neurology
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How to relieve migraine

The incidence of migraines is quite high, and the pain experienced can be severe. Patients often find it unbearable and refrain from physical activities, as everyday activities can significantly aggravate the headache. Therefore, rapid alleviation of migraine pain is crucial for improving patients' quality of life and maintaining stability in work and study. The main methods of alleviation include: The first method is relief through medication. Medications primarily include some non-steroidal pain relievers, along with other symptomatic treatment drugs. For example, if patients frequently experience vomiting, antiemetic drugs are necessary. Another category of drugs refers to benzodiazepine sedatives, which also play an important role in alleviating headaches. Additionally, there are specific drugs for treating migraines, mainly the triptan class of medications. The second aspect is that patients need to focus on resting and maintaining a quiet environment. A quiet environment plays a very important role in the management of migraines. (Note: This answer is for reference only. Medication should be taken under the guidance of a professional physician, and blind medication should be avoided.)

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Written by Liu Yan Hao
Neurology
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What should I do if I have a migraine attack?

Migraine attacks do not pose a significant risk to one's health. Therefore, during an attack, it is appropriate to take symptomatic oral pain relief and antiemetic medications for treatment, such as ibuprofen sustained-release capsules and metoclopramide tablets. These medications provide symptomatic relief. However, it is essential to confirm that the symptoms are due to a migraine and not conditions like cerebral hemorrhage or subarachnoid hemorrhage, which are acute cerebrovascular diseases. If it is one of these acute cerebrovascular diseases, taking these pain relievers could delay the diagnosis and treatment of the condition. Migraines are often triggered by certain foods, so it is best to avoid preserved foods, such as pickled vegetables that contain nitrates, which can trigger migraines. Other foods like cheese and red wine can also trigger migraines and should be avoided as much as possible. Additionally, it is important to rest properly, avoid staying up late, and try to reduce the frequency of migraine attacks. (Please consult a professional physician before using any medication.)