How to relieve migraines?

Written by Liu Yan Hao
Neurology
Updated on May 18, 2025
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Patients with migraines can take oral painkillers to alleviate the pain during an attack. If the patient also experiences nausea, they can take medication to protect the stomach lining and treat nausea and vomiting to relieve symptoms, since migraines do not pose a major threat to one's health. However, it is essential to confirm that the headache is indeed a migraine and not caused by conditions such as cerebral hemorrhage or subarachnoid hemorrhage. Typically, before a migraine attack, there are characteristic prodromal symptoms such as blurred vision or the appearance of wave-like patterns. These symptoms are followed shortly by unilateral or bilateral headaches, which can resolve completely within a few hours even without treatment. These symptoms tend to recur, which are indicative of typical migraines. During an episode, oral painkillers can be taken for relief. To prevent migraines, it is advisable to avoid staying up late, consuming pickled foods, cheese, and red wine as these can trigger migraines. It is recommended to avoid these foods as much as possible. (Medication should be used under the guidance of a doctor.)

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Written by Zhang Hui
Neurology
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How to suppress migraine and vomiting?

Patients with migraines typically experience unilateral or bilateral pulsating headaches. During severe headache episodes, they often experience significant symptoms of nausea and vomiting. This is because migraines can disrupt autonomic nervous function, and some neural nuclei in the brainstem emit impulses that cause nausea and vomiting. The treatment for vomiting includes the following aspects: First, patients should rest and avoid consuming foods that are hard to digest or are very tough. Second, patients can take orally or receive muscle injections of medications that treat vomiting, primarily those that promote gastrointestinal motility. Third, treating the migraine itself involves providing the patient with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs for pain relief. Once the headache is alleviated, the nausea and vomiting will naturally subside.

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Written by Zhang Hui
Neurology
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How to relieve migraine

The incidence of migraines is quite high, and the pain experienced can be severe. Patients often find it unbearable and refrain from physical activities, as everyday activities can significantly aggravate the headache. Therefore, rapid alleviation of migraine pain is crucial for improving patients' quality of life and maintaining stability in work and study. The main methods of alleviation include: The first method is relief through medication. Medications primarily include some non-steroidal pain relievers, along with other symptomatic treatment drugs. For example, if patients frequently experience vomiting, antiemetic drugs are necessary. Another category of drugs refers to benzodiazepine sedatives, which also play an important role in alleviating headaches. Additionally, there are specific drugs for treating migraines, mainly the triptan class of medications. The second aspect is that patients need to focus on resting and maintaining a quiet environment. A quiet environment plays a very important role in the management of migraines. (Note: This answer is for reference only. Medication should be taken under the guidance of a professional physician, and blind medication should be avoided.)

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Written by Zhang Hui
Neurology
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What should I do if I have severe migraines?

Migraine is a very common type of headache with a high incidence rate. Severe migraines can lead to nausea, vomiting, and even an inability to move, significantly impacting the patient's life and work. When migraines are severe, they can be managed by taking oral medications, specifically drugs that target migraines, mainly ergot preparations and triptans. However, these medications should not be used by patients with severe hypertension or by pregnant women. Additionally, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs can also be taken to provide relief. Furthermore, symptomatic treatment should be administered for nausea and vomiting, using antiemetic drugs. If migraines frequently occur and severely affect life, preventive treatments can also be undertaken with oral medications. These mainly include receptor blockers and calcium channel antagonists.

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Written by Liu Yan Hao
Neurology
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Can I wash my hair if I have a migraine?

Patients with migraines should avoid washing their hair during an attack. Water that is too hot or too cold can stimulate the dilation or spasm of cerebral blood vessels, potentially worsening migraine symptoms. Therefore, it is advised not to wash hair during a migraine attack, though it is fine during remission periods. During a migraine attack, symptomatic oral pain relievers and medications to alleviate vascular spasms can be used for treatment. It is important to prevent migraines by avoiding staying up late and overexertion. Additionally, certain foods known to trigger migraines should be avoided, including foods containing nitrites such as leftovers, pickled vegetables, and other preserved foods which may contain nitrites. Foods like red wine and cheese can also trigger migraines and should be consumed with caution. (Medication should be used under the guidance of a doctor.)

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Written by Zhang Hui
Neurology
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What causes migraines?

Migraine is a relatively common disease, and the possible causes of this disease are as follows: First, it may be related to genetics, with about 60% of migraines being familial, which strongly suggests that genes may be significantly related to the onset of migraines; Second, it is also clearly related to certain internal environments and hormone levels. For example, some women experience migraine attacks during menstruation. Additionally, the triggers for attacks also include drinking alcohol, consuming vasodilator drugs, eating chocolate, and consuming food additives containing sodium glutamate. The pathogenesis of this disease is not yet very clear, and it may be related to vascular dysfunction.