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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How many days can a migraine recover?

For most cases of migraines, patients generally recover within three days. If migraine-specific medications are administered, recovery can be faster, with symptoms significantly alleviated within a day. If a migraine persists for more than three days without recovery, it is known as a status migraine, and specific migraine medications need to be used, such as ergot preparations or triptan drugs, which are effective. Some patients with prolonged migraine duration may need sedatives and drugs to reduce intracranial pressure for symptomatic treatment. Patients with migraines must ensure adequate rest, ensure good sleep, and maintain stable emotions. (Medications should be used under the guidance of a doctor.)

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Written by Liu Yan Hao
Neurology
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Can you drink alcohol with a migraine?

Patients with migraines can appropriately drink some white liquor or beer, which is generally not a problem, but they must not drink red wine. This is because red wine and dairy products, such as cheese, can induce migraine attacks. Additionally, pickled foods like pickled vegetables contain nitrites, which can also trigger migraine attacks; therefore, it is best to avoid pickled foods as much as possible. Typically, before a migraine attack, there is a precursor symptom where vision changes occur. After these precursor symptoms disappear, migraine symptoms emerge. During a migraine attack, oral pain relievers can be taken for symptomatic treatment. Some patients may find relief on their own a few hours after not taking medicine. Symptoms may recur, so it is generally advised to identify and avoid these triggers to prevent migraine attacks.

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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.)

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Written by Zhang Hui
Neurology
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What to eat for migraine?

Patients with migraines, when suffering from an attack, need to take some medications for treatment. Commonly used medications include non-steroidal anti-inflammatory painkillers, which are effective for many patients. Additionally, specific anti-migraine drugs, such as ergot preparations, can also be used. Dietary considerations are also important; it is recommended that migraine sufferers eat plenty of fresh vegetables and fruits to help supplement sufficient folic acid and vitamins, which have a very beneficial impact on blood vessels, because migraines are caused by vascular dysfunction. Furthermore, eating foods rich in B vitamins, such as lean meats, rice, millet, and sorghum is advisable. Migraine patients should avoid eating pickled foods, cheese, or chocolate.

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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.