Migraine prevention of light mostly the wrong approach to therapy

Visual disturbances, nausea, freezing, numbness, and all this in combination with pounding headaches that are almost unbearable: In Germany alone, around six to eight million people suffer from migraine. For those who are affected by an acute attack, it is recommended, among other things, to avoid light. But that could be wrong, according to a headache expert.
Migraine patients are very sensitive to light
Migraine is a very common pain disorder, which leads to massive impairments of quality of life and failures in social and professional life. The patients experience massive headache, which can occur as a seizure, and a number of other complaints such as dizziness, blurred vision, cold, nausea and vomiting. The disease is considered incurable and the exact triggers are not yet known. According to health experts, there are various triggers that can trigger the headache attacks. Bad weather is one of them or stress and lack of sleep.

Avoiding light can increase migraine. Image: WavebreakMediaMicro - fotolia

Hypersensitivity to odors, noise or light is a common side effect of migraine. Patients therefore become light-shy during an attack and sometimes show photophobia. Light stimuli can also trigger a headache attack. Often, normal daylight is perceived as unbearable, which is why migraine sufferers retreat into dark rooms during an attack and sometimes shun light between attacks. Many doctors also advise patients to avoid brightness during attacks, but according to an Austrian research team, this could be wrong.

"Avoidance of light detrimental"
As reported on the website of the Medical University of Vienna (MedUni), a research team at the university is currently investigating new therapeutic approaches for the treatment of photosensitivity which is extremely detrimental to sufferers in a project funded by the Austrian Science Fund (FWF). According to the experts, this avoidance strategy is also one of the medical recommendations for dealing with migraine, but could be harmful. "Meanwhile, however, it is assumed that the avoidance of light is disadvantageous because it could further increase the sensitivity to light, the so-called photophobia," said headache expert Christian Wöber of the University Department of Neurology in Vienna (MedUni Vienna / AKH).

Sustainable ways of dealing with photosensitivity
This is similar to people who suffer from high altitude or claustrophobia and avoid anxiety-causing situations - but do not solve the problem. As part of the "Photophobia in Migraine" study, the researchers are therefore investigating whether there are other, and above all, sustainable ways of dealing with photosensitivity in migraine. According to her, initial research shows that desensitizing the brain to light stimuli may be the better strategy rather than avoiding light. The patients go through one-week training sessions in which the brain is to get used to "bright light" or "normal light" by "flickering light". "The current research project will use functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to provide the first brain function data for the best possible strategy," explained fMRI expert Roland Beisteiner. It is said that both approaches - light exposure and light deprivation - are being studied on migraine sufferers and on people without migraine. "It is still unclear whether the brain really becomes less sensitive due to desensitization, ie treatment by light. If so, that would be a completely new approach to therapy, "the researchers said.

Natural remedies for migraine
The research has found in the past few years regarding the topic of migraine much helpful for those affected. It is now known that the long-term use of painkillers can lead to more seizures. If the symptoms are not too severe, home remedies for migraines can sometimes help. For example, according to experts, patients have a herbal drug available for soothing or preventing the symptoms, such as feverfew. And recently, one study confirmed that cannabis may be helpful against migraine. In addition to various medicines, non-drug therapies for the prevention of migraine are also available. Relaxation exercises to reduce stress such as yoga or progressive muscle relaxation are recommended here. (Ad)