The causes of migraine

Written by Zhang Hui
Neurology
Updated on January 11, 2025
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Migraine is a very common type of headache in neurology, and the causes of migraines mainly include the following aspects. The first aspect, it may be caused by the dysfunction of vasoconstriction and dilation. Constriction of the blood vessels inside the skull leads to the precursor of migraine, and then dilation leads to the onset of the headache. The second reason to consider is that migraines may be caused by the cortical spreading depression. The third reason, it may also be due to trigeminal ganglion lesions causing migraine attacks, the specific mechanism of which is actually not very clear. The occurrence of a migraine also has some triggers, for example, consuming cheese, pickled products, chocolate, and wine can all potentially trigger migraines, which should be avoided.

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Written by Zhang Hui
Neurology
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Where does the migraine hurt?

The location of migraine pain is generally most commonly on one side, particularly in the frontal and temporal areas, which are the temples. Patients may feel a distinct pulsing in the blood vessels, and the pain can be quite severe, accompanied by significant nausea, vomiting, and other symptoms. However, some migraine sufferers experience bilateral pain in the frontal and temporal areas, meaning both temples feel significantly painful. The treatment primarily involves administering non-steroidal anti-inflammatory pain medications. If the patient also experiences significant nausea and vomiting, these symptoms need to be addressed as well. Additionally, migraine sufferers tend to be very sensitive to strong light and sound stimuli; it is recommended that they rest in bed during a migraine attack. If migraine attacks are frequent, it is advisable to take preventative medications orally.

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Written by Zhang Hui
Neurology
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Can migraines be cured?

From the current medical development perspective, it is very difficult to completely cure migraines. Migraine is a disease that is prone to attacks, primarily caused by dysfunction of certain blood vessels. Some also believe that abnormal changes in the trigeminal ganglion can also lead to migraines. Migraines are prone to recurrence, and can be triggered by fatigue, poor sleep, bad mood, anxiety, and depression. When a migraine attack occurs, the pain can be quite severe, generally ranging from moderate to severe, accompanied by significant nausea, vomiting, and other clinical manifestations, and a feeling of vascular pulsation during the headache. The treatment plan mainly involves the administration of pain relief medications. If migraine attacks are frequent and the pain during attacks is severe, severely affecting daily life, preventive treatment with medication can be given. These medications can reduce the frequency of migraine attacks, but achieving a complete cure remains very challenging.

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Written by Liu Yan Hao
Neurology
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Does a migraine hurt a lot?

Migraine is a severe type of headache, but generally does not last long and usually does not come with symptoms of limb weakness or nausea and vomiting. It often resolves on its own after a few hours, even without treatment. Typical migraine attacks often have some precursory symptoms related to vision changes, such as blurred vision, distorted shapes, or the appearance of water-like ripples; these symptoms are followed shortly by headaches, either on one side or both sides of the head. Migraines do not generally have a major impact on one's health. During an attack, taking ibuprofen sustained-release capsules can help alleviate the pain. Additionally, it is recommended to avoid staying up late and overworking. Certain foods, such as pickled products, salty vegetables, and nitrates, can trigger migraines; some dairy products and red wine can also provoke headaches, so it is best to avoid these foods to prevent migraines.

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Written by Zhang Hui
Neurology
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How to relieve migraine and vomiting

Many migraine patients also experience symptoms of vomiting, which is one of the most common accompanying symptoms of migraine. If vomiting occurs with a migraine, the following methods are recommended for relief: First, allow the patient to rest quietly, avoiding strong lights and loud sounds, which can exacerbate headaches and vomiting. Second, quickly terminate the headache attack, administer non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs for pain relief, and, if necessary, provide the patient with triptan preparations to quickly stop the headache. Third, sometimes the use of sedative-hypnotic drugs can also help reduce the symptoms of headaches and vomiting. Fourth, treat symptomatically; patients can be given muscle injections or oral antiemetic drugs for corresponding treatment, and most patients' symptoms of vomiting can be quickly alleviated.

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Written by Liu Yan Hao
Neurology
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What should I do if I have a migraine and feel nauseous?

Migraine-induced nausea can be symptomatically treated with oral pain relievers, medications that suppress gastric acid secretion, protect the gastric mucosa, and treat nausea. It is essential to confirm that the nausea is caused by a migraine rather than other acute cerebrovascular diseases. This is because migraine attacks do not pose a significant risk to health, and temporary relief from pain can be achieved by taking pain relievers orally. It's important to avoid staying up late and overworking to minimize the frequency of migraine attacks. If one experiences persistent severe headaches accompanied by nausea, conditions such as cerebral hemorrhage and subarachnoid hemorrhage must be ruled out, as these acute cerebrovascular diseases can be triggered. This is to avoid delaying treatment due to taking pain relievers. Therefore, it is crucial to understand the cause before proceeding with specific treatment. (Please administer medication under professional medical supervision and do not self-medicate.)