What kind of headache is a migraine?
Migraine is a disease that we often hear about, but what kind of headache is a migraine? Is a migraine a migraine when the headache is on one side? First of all, migraine is an episodic headache, not a persistent headache, with the characteristics of recurrent attacks; secondly, the performance of migraine has the following characteristics.
1. the headache lasts from 4 to 72 hours (meaning the duration of each headache attack)
2. pulsating (that is, like a pulsating blood vessel).
3. moderate to severe in intensity.
4. Mostly unilateral (can also be bilateral).
5. The headache is aggravated by forceful activity.
6. nausea (with or without vomiting).
7. photophobia or phonophobia.
If your headache has 3 or 4 of the above manifestations, it is likely to be a migraine, but it should be noted that firstly, migraine should not be diagnosed in first time attackers and secondly, there should be no evidence of organic disease.
Is there an aura before a migraine attack?
The headache can be preceded by a short prodromal period of depression, irritability, restlessness or loss of appetite. It can also be an aura (occurring in 10-20% of cases). Aura usually occurs less than 1 hour before the onset of the headache, but can often coexist with the headache. An aura is a brief, reversible, neurological disturbance involving visual, somatosensory, motor or verbal function. Most patients complain of a visual aura, including flashes of light, flickering dark spots and a castle-like spectrum.
Are all migraines fixed on one side?
Some patients have a fixed headache on one side of the head, others have a headache on one side but the attack may not be fixed on one side, sometimes on the left side and sometimes on the right side, and some patients have headaches on both sides or pain in parts of the forehead, top of the head, or the whole head.
What are the causes of migraine? What factors can trigger migraine?
The cause of migraine is unknown, and its pathophysiology is not fully understood. There are alterations in arterial blood flow in both the brain and scalp, but it is not clear whether vasodilation or vasoconstriction is the cause or effect of migraine. Although the exact etiology and pathogenesis of migraine is still under discussion, many factors are known to trigger and exacerbate migraine attacks. The following triggers are common.
1. Hormonal changes
Oral contraceptives can increase the frequency of migraine attacks; menstruation is a common trigger or aggravating factor for migraine (which may also explain why women have a higher incidence than men); pregnancy and sexual intercourse can trigger migraine attacks (“sexual intercourse headache”).
2. Certain medications
Typical migraine attacks can occur in some susceptible individuals after taking nifedipine (cardiac pain), isosorbide (cardiac pain), or nitroglycerin.
3.Weather change
Especially when the weather turns hot, cold, cloudy or humid.
4. Certain food additives and beverages
The most common are alcoholic beverages, such as certain red wines; dairy products, cheese, especially hard cheese; coffee; foods containing nitrites, such as soup, hot dogs; certain fruits, such as citrus fruits; chocolate (“chocolate headache”); certain vegetables; yeast; artificial sweets; fermented pickled products such as kimchi; MSG.
5. Movement
Small movements of the head can induce migraine attacks or make them worse. Some patients are afraid to take a car because they are afraid to take a car to cause migraine attacks; people who play soccer can induce headaches by putting their heads on the ball (“soccer player migraine”); climbing stairs to go upstairs can cause migraine.
6.Sleeping too much or too little.
7.A meal is missed or postponed.
8.Smoking or being in the smoke.
9.Flashing light, too strong light.
10.Tension, anger, depression, crying (“crying headache”), and many women can get migraine attacks by going to the mall or going to crowded places.
Migraine sufferers try to avoid the above triggering factors to reduce the number of migraine attacks.
What can I do to relieve a migraine attack?
Some people lie still for a few moments during a migraine attack to relieve the headache. Most people wake up after a good night’s sleep and the headache is relieved or disappears. Some people can get relief by closing their eyes in a darker room. Some people like to use their hands to press on both temporal sides to relieve the headache during a headache attack, and some people wash their head with cold water to relieve the headache.
Is there a family history of migraine?
Migraineurs have a family tendency to have migraines, and children of parents with migraines have a higher incidence of migraines than the general population.
What tests are needed to confirm the diagnosis of migraine if I suspect I have migraine?
The diagnosis of migraine is usually based on clinical symptoms, and there are no tests that can confirm the diagnosis of migraine. If you suspect that you have migraine, it is best to go to an experienced specialist in neurology and explain the characteristics of your headache in detail so that your doctor can make a diagnosis. Sometimes your doctor will also give you some tests such as transcranial Doppler, EEG, head CT, MRI, etc. The main purpose is to exclude organic diseases.
How is migraine treated?
Treatment of migraine is divided into symptomatic treatment and preventive treatment. It is necessary to treat the pain as soon as possible when the headache attacks, and various kinds of painkillers such as fenbendazole, Xanax, painkillers, furosemide and other painkillers such as sumatriptan should be used. This is not only painful but also ineffective. If headache attacks are frequent, preventive treatment is needed. Generally speaking, preventive treatment should be started for more than 2 attacks per month to reduce the number of attacks.
The following types of preventive medications are commonly used.
Calcium channel antagonists: flunarizine, 5-10 mg/dose once a night, side effects include drowsiness, extrapyramidal reactions, weight gain, depression, etc.
β-blockers: propranolol, starting dose 3 times/d, 10mg/d, gradually increasing to 60mg/d, also introduced 120mg/d, discontinued for heart rate <60 beats/min. Asthma, severe atrioventricular block is prohibited.
Antidepressants: Amitriptyline 3 times/d, 25mg/d, gradually increase the dosage. There may be side effects such as drowsiness, and the side effects are obvious after the dosage is increased. Fluoxetine (Chinese trade name Prozac) 20mg/tablet, l tablet every morning, taken after meal, the initial dose and effective dose of this drug is the same, easy to take, side effects include sleep disorder, gastrointestinal symptoms, etc., often lighter.
Of course, analgesics should be used in moderation. In some cases they are effective, but in others they can cause rebound headaches when the dose is increased, and frequent use of analgesics, such as more than 10 times a month, can cause drug dependence or headaches caused by analgesics. The best treatment for mild to moderate headaches is probably non-opioid anti-inflammatory drugs (e.g., fen-phen), and opioids (e.g., morphine) should be avoided except in special circumstances and with a strict regimen of instructions.
Is TCM effective in the treatment of migraine?
Acupuncture and massage can provide immediate pain relief during a migraine attack, and Chinese herbal medicine is effective in preventing migraine attacks. Chinese herbal medicine is often used to treat migraine with drugs that can remove wind and blood stasis, and depending on individual diagnosis, it is sometimes combined with drugs that can clear heat, disperse cold, calm the mind, and relieve depression in the liver. Commercially available Chinese patent medicines Tongtian Oral Liquid, Tianshu Capsule, compound yangjia granules, Chuanxiong Tea Tune Granules, Zhengtian Pill, and Nourishing Blood and Clearing Brain Granules are all useful in treating migraine. You can go to the hospital to find a Chinese medicine doctor to choose the appropriate Chinese patent medicine according to the diagnosis, and if you choose the soup treatment, it is more targeted.
Massage treatment for migraine: 1.
1.Twisting with the thumb or index and middle finger, Qu temples GB7, Rate Valley GB8, Horn Sun SJ14, Hanging skull GB5, Hanging cranium GB6 for 30 seconds per point, about 3 minutes.
2, big fish interval knead forehead: one hand big fish interval palm surface close to the forehead, forearm rotation drive wrist and fish interval swing, from left to right, cycle back and forth in the forehead to operate, about 5 minutes.
3, both thumbs point to rub the bilateral Fengchi GB20 points for 2 minutes, moderate or heavy force, to soreness and swelling, radiating to half the side of the head is appropriate.
4, one-finger zen push rub the posterior occipital region: use one-finger zen push method in the posterior occipital region of the brain DU17, Yu pillow UB9, brain hollow GB19 points, operation: speed should be fast, to local soreness and heat sensation is appropriate, about 2 minutes.
5, one finger Zen pushing the posterior cervical muscle group: operate along the three lines of the posterior cervical muscle group (medial muscle group, equivalent to Hua Tuo pinch EX-B2; middle muscle group, lateral muscle group) from top to bottom to the shoulder. Requirements: slow speed, medium or large force, soreness and swelling at the operation is appropriate, 2.5 minutes per side, 5 minutes in total.