Neurologist warned about the dangers of "folk" methods of treating migraines

Treating migraines with advice from social media can lead to complications and the disease becoming chronic. Magomed Ruslanovich Iznaurov, a neurologist and algologist at the Medicine clinic, told Izvestia about this on March 20.

"When a patient repeatedly "drowns out" an attack with improvised means instead of adequate treatment, the process of central sensitization is triggered — episodic migraine can turn into a chronic form with 15 or more days of pain per month," he noted.

According to the specialist, migraine is a complex neurovascular disorder associated with biochemical processes in the central nervous system. Popular "folk" methods do not affect the mechanism of the disease and provide only short-term relief.

The doctor emphasized that advice like combining painkillers with energy drinks is particularly dangerous. Such combinations increase the load on the gastrointestinal tract and can lead to peptic ulcer disease. However, increasing the dose of drugs in the absence of an effect does not solve the problem and may worsen the condition.

Iznaurov added that some popular life hacks, such as contrasting temperature effects, can disrupt blood flow and in some cases increase the risk of ischemic stroke, especially in people with vascular diseases.

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In addition, the doctor said that one of the common mistakes is self-medication without making an accurate diagnosis. According to him, a headache can be a symptom of various diseases, including dangerous conditions that require urgent medical attention.

To treat migraines, the doctor recommends using evidence-based medicine methods. Depending on the severity of the attack, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs or triptans are used, which affect the very mechanism of pain development. Prevention includes drug therapy and lifestyle changes.

"Migraine is a chronic neurological disease, not 'just a headache.' Any treatment, including the choice of drugs and non-medicinal methods, should be carried out exclusively under the supervision of a neurologist," Iznaurov concluded.

The Ingosstrakh press service reported on December 24 that approximately 40% of Russians' visits to a neurologist are related to headaches. It turned out that women (18%) are more likely to experience headaches and migraines than men (10%). In Khabarovsk, Tolyatti and Vladivostok, the vast majority of respondents indicated that they do not experience migraines — 81% each. In Orenburg, 24% of respondents reported regular or periodic headaches and migraine attacks, while in Penza and Yaroslavl, 18% each.

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