Recommendations From The Expert For Migraine Patients

Long periods of confinement at home and fear of getting sick have also strained migraine sufferers. Stating that factors such as continuous anxiety, depression, malnutrition, sedentary life order, and irregular sleep trigger migraine, Yeditepe University Hospitals Neurologist Asst. Prof. Dr. Halide Rengin Bilgen Akdeniz stated that the attacks of migraine patients increased during the pandemic period and therefore the number of applications increased.

Underlining that migraine is closely related to anxiety and depression, Asst. Prof. Dr. Halide Rengin Bilgen Akdeniz continued as follows: ‘Constant anxiety during the pandemic period, anxiety, finally brings depression. In this period, the person enters a period of malaise, reluctance, and demoralization. In this case, the increase in the frequency and severity of migraine headaches results in a decrease in the quality of daily life, as well as school or work life. However, less than five percent of migraine sufferers refer to a specialist for pain management.

During This Time, Sleep Patterns Were Disrupted

Stating that migraine has a very close relationship with sleep too, Yeditepe University Hospital Neurologist Asst. Prof. Dr. Halide Rengin Bilgen Akdeniz: "The sleep rhythm of migraine patients mustn't change. Unfortunately, the sleep patterns of many of those staying at home or working from home during the pandemic period have deteriorated. However, all kinds of sleep disorders such as insufficient sleep, excessive sleep, and changes in the person's routine sleep hours can trigger migraines."

Some Foods Cause Migraine Attacks

Talking about the relationship between migraine and nutrition, Asst. Prof. Dr. Halide Rengin Bilgen Akdeniz: "There are also foods that trigger migraines. Many foods such as processed foods (such as salami, and sausage), chocolate, excessive caffeine consumption, some alcoholic beverages, fried foods, and some types of cheese can trigger migraines. At the same time, artificial sweeteners such as aspartame, foods with high tyramine content, and foods containing monosodium glutamate additives activate the narrowing and subsequent expansion of the vessels that make up the migraine mechanism, causing the emergence of a migraine attack. Various studies have shown that weight gain in addition to food is also effective on migraines. We saw that many people gained weight during the pandemic. In obese patients, the risk of migraine turning into a chronic form, that is, into a form in which 15 or more attacks are seen per month, is 5 times higher. At the same time, it was observed that the frequency and severity of migraine attacks increased in patients with insulin resistance.

One of the Main Enemies of Migraines is Sedentary Living

Stating that sedentary life also negatively affects migraine, Yeditepe University Hospital Neurology Specialist Dr. Halide Rengin Bilgen Akdeniz, "During the pandemic, we warned everyone to ‘stay at home'. Of course, inactivity, as in many diseases, negatively affected migraines. We recommend migraine patients exercise, especially walking in the open air, in addition to medication. However, during this period, patients could not do these exercises. We recommend walking in the open air by taking precautions such as maintaining social distance and wearing a mask. In migraine patients, light sensitivity, which we call photophobia, is important. Since bright lights and sunlight can trigger attacks, it is important that they do not walk during the hours when the sun's rays are steep, and that they protect themselves during the walk with a wide hat and sunglasses. "