Migraine – Preventing and treating headaches properly

Once the attack is there, total withdrawal and medication help. There’s a lot you can do to make sure it doesn’t get that bad. New studies show ways to curb the pain.

It chugs, pulls or hammers – around two million women in Germany are familiar with such early signs of migraine and endure them – in the hope that it will pass quickly. “But current studies show that taking painkillers too late prolongs the attack,” says Prof. Dr. Hartmut Göbel, headache expert and head of the pain clinic in Kiel. As soon as the pain begins, those affected should use a suitable pain reliever. “For milder attacks, aspirin, paracetamol, or ibuprofen come into question. Triptans are the first choice for severe migraines.” However, certain procedures help to prevent attacks from the outset.

Here are the different types of headaches

Typical migraine

  • The pain usually comes at you in an attack
  • The head hurts mainly on one side
  • The pain is throbbing and throbbing, moderate to severe
  • With physical exertion, the pain increases
  • Sometimes side effects such as flashes of light

Typical tension headache

  • The pain often begins with tension in the shoulders and neck
  • The pain occurs on both sides, encompasses the entire head like a helmet
  • Rather dull and pulling pain, mild to moderate
  • The pain does not increase with movement
  • No side effects

Also, learn about the top 10 alternative medicines for migraines

Know real and false migraine triggers

Doctors used to believe that certain foods triggered migraines. They included chocolate, citrus fruits and cheese among these so-called triggers. Prof. Göbel: “Today we know that cravings, e.g. B. after sweets already belongs to the symptom complex of migraine. Because in the run-up to the migraine, there is an energy deficit in the nerve cells. That is why the nervous system craves high-calorie foods.

Strong migraine triggers, on the other hand, are stress, irregular rhythms of life and skipping meals.” The flickering of PC screens, which is barely perceptible to the eye, can also trigger a migraine attack.

By the way: Even with unbearable pain, the brain will probably not be damaged. Doctors had feared that at times. In a recent study, scientists from the University of Leiden in the Netherlands were not able to demonstrate any loss of memory, concentration or attention, even in the case of chronic migraine.

Treatment options for migraines

The migraine injection as the latest treatment option
The so-called migraine injection is a therapy specially developed for migraine with monoclonal antibodies that bind to the transmitter substance (calcitonin gene-related peptide) CGRP or its receptor in the nervous system. The antibodies prevent pain from being passed on to the brain. This type of therapy can also be carried out independently in your own home once a month. Patients can thus dispense with the daily intake of tablets. For patients who suffer from headaches at least 15 times a month, of which at least eight days are due to migraines, the health insurance usually covers the costs of 688 euros. The initial treatment lasts six months. After that, further treatment options can be discussed with the doctor.

Braking migraines with the power of thought
Biofeedback can do this, a gentle method with a simple principle: Using sensors that are wired to a computer, the sufferer sees on the monitor, for example, how high their skin resistance is or how tense their muscles are – and learns how to use them to lower the thought consciously.

Clarity thanks to the headache app
Keeping a headache diary helps to identify the typical triggers and connections. This is made particularly easy by an app for smartphones, a medical mini-program that Prof. Göbel and his team developed. With “migraine” those affected can record and evaluate the course of the headache.

Perceiving signals, showing feelings
Concordance therapy, behavioral training specially developed for migraine patients, also helps to better perceive bodily signals in difficult situations. It teaches you to show feelings, to talk about worries and problems instead of “eating them up inside”. This lowers the stress level.

Crystal Waston MD

Crystal Waston has a degree in Cross Media Production and Publishing. At vital.de she gives everyday tips and deals with topics related to women's health, sport, and nutrition.

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