Migraine: How safe and effective is the new headache-relief trick with cola and fries?

 

Migraine: How safe and effective is the new headache-relief trick with cola and fries?

Migraines, also known as migraines, are a condition that affects more than 10 million people in the UK alone. They can be life-threatening, career-ending and life-limiting. So when a recipe comes along that claims to be a potential cure, or at least a temporary relief, people are eager to try it.

While there is medical help for the condition, there is no permanent cure.

While prescription medication can make a difference, it doesn't always work. For many people, there is no easy solution.

Some people have found their own ways to cope with the pain. Some blow a hairdryer on one side of their face, or take a hot bath with an ice pack, or drink a smoothie.

But now a new hack has suddenly gone viral. Make Migraine Me

 

What is a migraine?

A migraine, which can last for several days, is very different from a common short-term headache and is more easily treated with painkillers such as paracetamol.

Migraines can cause headaches, neck pain, numbness, blurred vision and even affect speech and movement.

Skulls dating back to 3,000 BC suggest that ancient Egyptians also suffered from migraines, but despite this long history, the exact cause is still unknown.

It is thought that pain receptors in blood vessels and nerve tissue around the brain mistakenly send out false signals that something is wrong. But we do not know why some people's nervous systems are overly sensitive and why it only reacts in some people and not others.

Experts say there is not enough research into why only some people - around one in seven - are affected or what can actually help.

Dr K. Keynes, a trustee of the Migraine Trust and a migraine specialist, says that while there are elements in Coke and fries that can help prevent headaches, this is not necessarily the case with McDonald's food.

Dr. Keynes says that "the caffeine in Coke can act as a neuromodulator, a substance that affects nerve activity. For some people, this disruption works in a positive way."

She says, "Some painkillers that people take for migraines contain caffeine and for some it has a good effect, but we don't fully know why."

But she warns against using caffeinated fizzy drinks like cola to treat migraines regularly.

“Too much caffeine can also be a stimulant and you could end up with a worse condition in the long run,” says Dr. Canis.

She says that other ingredients in fast food, such as the salt on chips, can affect nerve activity, but the effects of sodium on migraines have not been studied.

She also warns that not only is fast food often ultra-processed and not a healthy diet, but it can also be high in tyramine, a naturally occurring compound found in many foods that can actually trigger severe migraines.

 

Effects of caffeine and sodium

Nick Cook, from Oxfordshire, carries a ‘purse full of medicine’ in case of a migraine attack.

He says he is willing to try ‘anything’ to relieve the pain.

‘When you live with this condition, and you’re working five days a week and you have to keep up with your routine, you’ll try anything.’

When the pain is at its worst, the pain around Nick’s eye socket feels like his eye is being crushed.

He says the caffeine and sugar in cola help him.

‘If I catch it early, it can sometimes work, when my vision gets blurry I know it’s coming.’

He stresses that drinking cola is not a substitute for the painkiller he takes daily to prevent migraines, but it sometimes helps him ‘get through the day’.

Kelly Webster, 27, who has suffered from chronic migraines her whole life, says it’s the salt on the chips that can slow down her migraine attacks.

‘It can help, but it’s definitely not a cure,’ she says.

‘Migraines are a complex neurological condition and a little bit of caffeine, salt and sugar in fast food is not going to cure it.’

Kelly has tried cocktails of different medicines, put her feet in hot water, had acupuncture and cupping on the back of her head, but they have had little effect.

One of the few treatments that has given him relief is medical Botox. He has had dozens of injections into his head, face and neck.

It is still unclear how Botox works for migraines, but it is thought to block powerful pain signals sent from nerves.

Lifestyle changes

But none of the social media tips worked for Eloise Underwood.

The migraine sufferer has been searching for a “magic cocktail” for seven years.

People have suggested soaking her feet in very hot water (which experts don’t recommend and is potentially dangerous), drinking hot coffee (caffeine can increase pain), or various vibrating devices, all of which have had little effect.

Eloise says that “there are so many videos online that capitalize on the frustration we all feel.”

She has quit several jobs, often because the light and noise in an office environment trigger migraines.

She recently quit working as an interior designer and has now started a business pressing and framing wedding flowers from her home.

She wears earbuds to reduce the volume of sounds around her and has limited her social life.

“People think migraines are just headaches,” says Eloise. “That’s just a symptom, for me migraines are a whole-body experience.”

“Migraines have completely shortened my life,” she says.

Professor Peter Godsby, a neurologist at the NIHR King’s Clinical Research Facility, says there have been years of underfunding but now research is starting to show positive results.

His latest study shows that drugs known as gapentases can block a group of pain receptors before a migraine attack, stopping the pain before it even starts.

“Any new treatment is a ray of hope,” says Eloise. “No drug works for everyone, but something will work for some.”

Professor Godsby says lifestyle changes can also make a difference.

It can be boring, he says, but it’s basically “watching your mind.”

“You have to establish a routine. Pay attention to the warning signs in your body, like yawning, drowsiness, mood swings, frequent urination and even cravings for salt and sugar, so listen to your body.”

“My advice is to listen to your body, not TikTok.”

Nick is doing exactly that. He may have tried the cola and salty fries trick, but he’s spent his entire life trying to manage his migraines.

“I don’t drink, I wear sunglasses, even when it’s cloudy outside,” he says.

“When my partner and I go out, half the stuff we take is to help with our migraines.”

Nick noticed a difference in his and his friends’ lives over the weekend.

“He would stay up all night drinking until the early hours of the morning,” says Nick.

“I brought apples, bananas, Weetabix and snacks to keep by my pillow, which I would need, because hunger can be a big trigger for migraines.”

“I go to bed before midnight. My colleagues know and that’s okay, because that’s how I have to live my life.”