Almost every person in his life faces migraines. Those who managed to avoid this condition can rightfully be called lucky. This article will tell you what to do with migraines. You will find out what medications and folk recipes are allowed for use at home, as well as how to relieve a migraine attack without medication (using gymnastics and the environment).
What is migraine?
Before you know what to do with migraines and how to relieve an attack, it is worth saying a few words about the disease itself. This pathology belongs to the neurological class. Migraine is distinguished from a usual headache by a special character. Most often, it appears in one half of the head. The pain at the same time gradually increases, becomes pulsating and simply unbearable.
Many doctors believe that migraine is inherited only in women. If your mother or grandmother suffered from this ailment, then there is a high probability that sooner or later he will manifest himself. Most often, the disease gains its activity at the age of the patient from 30 to 35 years. However, episodes at an earlier or later age are not excluded.
Symptoms of the disease
Very often, migraine is accompanied by intolerance to bright light and loud sound. In addition, pain may be accompanied by loss of appetite, nausea and vomiting. However, before its occurrence, the patient often wants to use some specific (unusual) product.
Pain during an attack often occupies one half of the head. In this case, the spread can be on the neck, eye and shoulder area. Less commonly, pathology affects two hemispheres at once. In this case, migraine becomes simply unbearable. Such sensations can last from one hour to several days. If a person encounters an irritant (light, noise, pungent smell), then the condition can significantly worsen.
How to cure migraine or relieve pain quickly?
There are several ways to eliminate or prevent the development of pathology. Treatment can be medication, inpatient, folk, and so on. Many patients note that a variety of drugs taken orally have virtually no effect. This is explained by the fact that during the attack the stomach stops working (this is what causes nausea and vomiting). As a result of this process, a variety of drugs do not enter the intestines for further processing and absorption into the blood. So, if there is a migraine attack, what to do and how to quickly remove the discomfort? Let's try to consider several treatment methods in detail.
Better to prevent than to heal
If you feel that migraine will develop soon, how to relieve pain in this case? Many doctors and scientists claim that the attack can be stopped at the very initial stages. Often before the onset of migraine, a person feels a fear of light, the appearance of pungent odors. An aura may appear within one hour before an attack. In this case, the patient feels a slight blurred consciousness, the appearance of white flies in front of the eyes, which are immediately replaced by black spots. Tinnitus and lethargy may also occur.
To relieve a headache with migraines already at this stage, you just need to fall asleep. For many patients, this method allows you to completely avoid discomfort. For other patients, migraine occurs in a more lightweight form. However, it is not always possible to instantly disconnect from the outside world. If you feel that migraine is coming on, you can use the following methods:
- drink a small cup of coffee (the entry of a vasodilator into the body will alleviate the condition);
- take analgesics (this rule can only help if pulsation in the temples has not yet begun);
- use a contrast shower (this method will help bring your blood vessels to normal);
- take sedatives;
- massage your feet (on the legs are the points that are responsible for pain impulses in the head).
Drug treatment
If you are struck by a migraine attack, pain treatment should be started as soon as possible. Many doctors recommend the use of drugs to relieve discomfort. All of them can be divided into several groups.
Analgesics
These funds can be produced in various forms. The most common pills. However, with nausea and vomiting, this form may simply be ineffective. There are also syrups, suspensions and effervescent (soluble) capsules. They act somewhat faster, but when inhibiting the functioning of the stomach, they may also not help. Rectal suppositories and injections in this case will be much more effective.
Among the analgesics, the following drugs can be distinguished: "Paracetamol", "Solpadein", "Mig", "Aspirin" and so on. All of them have a similar effect. Once in the body, drugs are absorbed into the bloodstream and spread throughout the body. Means detect the source of the pain syndrome and eliminate it.
It is worth noting that with vascular spasm, all these drugs will be ineffective. Migraine is often triggered by the narrowing and expansion of the main arteries of the brain.
Antispasmodics
If the pain in the head is caused by vasospasm, then this group of drugs can be used. Most often they are available in the form of capsules, injections and rectal suppositories. If possible, it is better to introduce an intramuscular solution.
Among antispasmodics, the following drugs can be distinguished: No-Shpa, Papaverin, Drotaverin, and many others. Once in the human body, the drug is rapidly absorbed and has a relaxing effect on smooth muscles.
Antidepressants and sedatives
If you often suffer from migraines, how to relieve pain before it intensifies? In this case, you can drink sedatives and antidepressants. Scientists have proved that often pathology arises precisely because of stressful situations.
Among these drugs, the following can be distinguished: Afobazol, Persen, extracts of valerian, motherwort and so on. It is worth noting that during an attack the use of exclusively these funds will not lead to anything. All these medicines must be taken before the onset of pain.
Caffeine-based products (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs)
If traditional analgesics have not helped you, then how to relieve migraines (how to relieve pain)? In this case, you can take any drug containing caffeine, such as Citramon, Exedrine, or any other similar remedy.
These drugs not only relieve pain, but also gently affect the vessels of the brain, expanding them somewhat.
Triptans
There are even more powerful remedies for migraine. The treatment in this case is carried out with drugs from the class of triptans. They interact with the main receptors of the human brain and stop unpleasant sensations.
Such funds include the following: Sumamigrain, Amigrenin, Relpaks, Sumatriptan, Zomig and many others. It is worth noting that all these medicines should be taken only as prescribed by the doctor after a correctly established diagnosis.
Drug-Free Methods
If you have a migraine, how to relieve pain without using medication? There are several effective ways. However, each person selects his individual approach to this disease. Try all the methods and choose the most suitable for you:
- Take a horizontal position in a dark room. If it is not possible to remove sounds and turn off the lights, use a special eye mask and insert ear plugs. Be in this state until the pain is relieved.
- Take a hot bath. At the same time, immerse not only the body, but also the head in the liquid. Water should have fairly high temperatures. Remember that this method is not suitable for diseases of the heart and blood vessels.
- Get some sleep. The dream should be just short. Enough 15-20 minutes to alleviate the condition. After that, you can drink a cup of strong coffee and put a cold bandage on the forehead.
- Rub whiskey with menthol ointment or pencil. After this, bandage your head tightly. Stay in that condition until your symptoms are relieved.
- Make a cold hand bath. The liquid should contain pieces of ice. Only in this case you will achieve the desired effect. Place your hands in a bowl and remain in this position until the water heats up.
Gymnastics
How to get rid of discomfort? You can use simple gymnastics. Exposure to the muscles of the neck and shoulder girdle allows you to stop the pain and can be an excellent prevention of relapse.
Sit on a chair and straighten your back. Tilt your chin to your chest as close as possible. In this case, you need to feel how the muscles and ligaments of the neck are stretched, located at the back. Tilt your head to the right. After that, repeat the same movement in the opposite direction. Do gymnastics slowly and with your eyes closed.
Massage the forehead area from the center to the temples. At the same time, make pressure movements. From the temples draw similar lines to the back of the head. From the back of the neck, massage your head towards the crown.
After the gymnastics, you need to take a horizontal position and relax a bit.
Can migraines be prevented?
If you do not want to deal with the symptoms of the disease, then it is worth taking care of prevention. Of course, you can cure migraines. How to relieve pain (pills and drug-free methods) is described above. However, there are a number of rules by following which, you can minimize the risk of pain:
- try to sleep at least 8, but not more than 10 hours a day;
- observe the daily regimen (eat at the same time);
- Avoid eating prohibited foods (cheese, chocolate, spirits, soda);
- more often stay in the fresh air (move and walk more);
- drink vitamins (it is best to choose a complex of B vitamins, for example, Neuromultivit, Magnerot, Magne B6);
- avoid stressful situations (if necessary, use sedatives);
- monitor vascular health (regularly visit a doctor and, if necessary, do an MRI).
Treatment Reviews
You already know what migraine is, how to relieve pain. Tablets with this pathology can have different strengths of action. One patient helps banal "Citramon" or "Aspirin". Other patients are forced to take more serious and potent drugs.
Doctors say that treatment should always be carried out. You cannot tolerate such severe pain. Some patients require inpatient treatment. There are situations when a person cannot cope with the disease on his own. In this case, you should visit a doctor and get an appropriate appointment.
Summarizing
So, now you know everything about this disease: remedies for migraine, migraine, how to relieve pain. If after treatment the symptoms persist for more than a day, then you should contact your doctors. In some cases, pain can be a sign of a more serious pathology. Also, if the body temperature has risen, it is worth calling an emergency and taking a horizontal position.
Learn to recognize signs of an onset of an attack. In this case, you will be able to cope with the pain symptom even before it appears or transfer the migraine to a milder form. Be treated correctly and be always healthy!