To mark European Headache and Migraine Day on September 12, the Center for Special Pain Medicine at Sportklinik Hellersen is focusing on the challenges of migraines and headaches. After all, migraine is the most common neurological disorder in Germany. According to the German Migraine and Headache Society, around 350,000 migraines occur in Germany every day. Dr. Wolfgang Welke, Chief of Special Pain Medicine at the Sportklinik Hellersen, sheds light on the most important aspects of the disease.
Migraines are a particularly severe form of headache, characterized by pulsating, often one-sided pain and frequently accompanied by nausea and sensitivity to light. "Migraines are an extremely distressing type of headache that affects many people and significantly restricts their quality of life," explains Dr. Wolfgang Welke. Typical warning signs include visual field loss and eye flickering. Migraines can also occur at different frequencies, which is why targeted treatment is required depending on the severity. While acute attacks are often treated with painkillers, chronic courses may require prophylactic medication.
In addition to drug treatment, a precise diagnosis plays a decisive role in dealing with migraines. An exact determination of the type of headache is essential in order to develop an effective therapy. Headache diaries are often used for this purpose. These diaries are used to identify precise patterns - when the pain occurs, how long it lasts and under what conditions it worsens or improves. "It is important to get to the bottom of the cause," emphasizes Dr. Wolfgang Welke, Chief of Special Pain Medicine at the Sportklinik Hellersen.
By keeping a headache diary, patients and doctors can jointly draw conclusions about possible triggers and specific pain characteristics. This information is crucial for optimizing individual treatment strategies. For example, concomitant illnesses that exacerbate or influence migraines can be better identified and treated. A common example of this is problems in the cervical spine, such as herniated discs or constrictions of the spinal nerves, which can lead to so-called cervicogenic headaches. These headaches are caused by dysfunctions in the cervical spine or neck and can spread to the head, which can exacerbate a migraine attack.
By recognizing such concomitant illnesses at an early stage and including them in the treatment, not only the frequency of attacks but also the intensity of the migraine can be reduced.
Another focus is on avoiding migraine triggers, which can range from magnesium deficiency to stress and lack of sleep. A holistic approach, which includes both medical and behavioral therapy measures, can significantly improve the quality of life of those affected. "If a few factors are changed, the number of attacks will already decrease," says Dr. Wolfgang Welke and emphasizes: "And that is always the goal: as few migraine attacks as possible."
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