Qingdao Daily/Guanhai News, August 8th – From Monday to Friday, office worker Qi Xiaobai drank one cup of coffee after another, working like hanging up. After finally staying up until the weekend, he thought he could finally lay flat? As a result, my head started to ache one by one, and after playing for ten minutes, I felt groggy and tired all over. At this moment, Qi Xiaobai searched online and found: "Can drinking coffee or cola cure migraines
Is this statement scientific? Recently, experts from Shandong University Qilu Hospital (Qingdao) provided answers and clarifications to citizens.
Migraine is the second most common type of headache, affecting billions of people. Many people think that migraine is just a pain in one side of the head, and the pattern becomes smaller – it may even send a group of "little brothers" to come first: nausea, vomiting, fear of light, fear of noise, flashes in front of the eyes, and blurred vision.
The pathogenesis of migraine is still not fully understood. At present, it is believed that the trigeminal nervous system, as well as higher centers such as the hypothalamus, brainstem, and cerebral cortex, are involved in the onset of migraine. Simply put, it's just that the nerves and blood vessels in your brain are getting angry and getting you involved.
Many migraine sufferers have the experience that poor sleep, high stress, emotional excitement, and even female menstruation can trigger migraines. Red wine, cheese, pickled foods, chocolate, etc. can all become "triggers".
That's why migraines, although common, have complex causes and simple triggers, like an elusive 'old friend' that comes easily.
Does coffee and cola treat migraines? The truth is, it is a double-edged sword. Doctors believe that these drinks can be used for a while, but they may also cause more pain for patients.
The key to the impact of coffee and cola on migraines lies in the caffeine inside. Caffeine is a well-known central nervous system stimulant, and many compound painkillers add it as an "assistant". This indicates that it does have a certain analgesic effect.
Doctors have found that caffeine may alleviate migraines by contracting blood vessels. During migraines, the brain's blood vessels are often in a dilated state, and caffeine can cause blood vessels to contract, reducing pulsatile pain.
Blocking adenosine, a "pain inducing molecule" that dilates blood vessels, can be blocked by caffeine.
Accelerate drug efficacy, caffeine can improve gastric motility, allowing painkillers to be absorbed faster.
It may also alleviate migraine by reducing cerebral blood flow velocity, regulating gut microbiota, and affecting the brain gut axis.
Does it sound good? Don't worry, the other side is here – caffeine can both alleviate and induce migraines, the key lies in dosage and habits.
There is a special type called "vestibular migraine", in which doctors have found that reducing or stopping caffeine intake actually alleviates symptoms.
There is another more common type – caffeine withdrawal headache. For example, if you drink two or three cups of coffee every day on weekdays and suddenly stop drinking on weekends, your body feels like it's running out of food, with headaches, drowsiness, and fatigue. This is a typical caffeine withdrawal reaction. Long term excessive intake of caffeine or sudden cessation can trigger migraines. So, it is unreliable to talk about the impact without considering the specific situation and setting aside the dosage.
How do migraine sufferers drink coffee? Experts emphasize that the core principle is to consume no more than 200 milligrams of caffeine per day (approximately the amount of two bottles of coffee drinks), maintain stability, and avoid large fluctuations.
Specifically, it can be divided into three situations: people who never drink coffee or tea should not drink it specifically for the purpose of "treating headaches". When migraine attacks occur, it is more reliable to take painkillers honestly and rest well.
People who often drink coffee should try to maintain a similar amount every day. Don't suddenly shut down on weekends, you can drink less but don't stop all at once.
People who plan to quit coffee should gradually reduce their intake over a few weeks, such as by one-third per week, to give their body a period of adaptation and avoid withdrawal reactions that can trigger migraines.
Please note that caffeine is not only hidden in coffee and cola, the following foods/drinks also contain caffeine. You may want to check the label on the packaging when purchasing.
Tea: Green tea, black tea, oolong tea are all available, and the content of strong tea is not low.
Chocolate: Especially dark chocolate is also available.
Functional drinks such as Red Bull and Claw typically have high caffeine content.
Some painkillers, such as compound cold medicines and painkillers, also contain caffeine.
So, if you enjoy drinking tea and chocolate, don't forget to include these in your daily caffeine intake.
Finally, doctors remind all workers that coffee is not the "cure" for migraines, regular living is the key. Finding a rhythm that suits oneself, following a regular schedule, and reducing triggers are the long-term solutions to dealing with migraines.
If migraine attacks frequently and the pain is severe, or if you cannot figure out the cause, it is recommended to see a neurologist in a timely manner for prevention and treatment under professional guidance. (Qingdao Daily/Guanhai News reporter Huang Fei)
Responsible Editor: Lv Jingwen
Liaoning ICP Security No. 21122402000217