To prevent and relieve migraine, exercise!

Very common among the French since it concerns 20% of the population (three times more women than men), migraine is nonetheless a very painful disease, which should not be confused with a simple sickness. head.

The WHO classifies it among the 20 pathologies with the strongest societal impact, and migraine in France is responsible for 20 million days of sick leave per year.

Doctor Jimmy Mohamed, health consultant from Europe 1, tells us more about this pathology and the means to combat it, in particular through the practice of sport. 

Take an anti-inflammatory

"We talk about migraine when there is a repetition of attacks, at least five, with headaches that will last quite a long time, between 4 and 72 hours. These headaches will affect half of the skull, with pain" pulsating ", which start, with the impression that the heart is beating in the head. The headache is accompanied by nausea and vomiting. One is also embarrassed by light and noise. 

>> Find Jimmy Mohamed's column every morning at 8:37 am on Europe 1 as well as in replay and podcast here

When you have a migraine, walking will make the pain worse, lying down and sleeping will ease it.

It is therefore advisable to take an anti-inflammatory, a drug from the ibuprofen family, aspirin. 

The importance of sport

But playing sports can also be a way to avoid migraine.

According to a study published in the American Academy of Neurology, two-thirds of migraine sufferers do not get enough physical activity.

According to this same study, patients who practice 2h30 of sport per week have fewer migraines than others. 

While migraine is often inherited, there are also triggers.

Also, when you are stressed, anxious, or lack of sleep, you can trigger seizures.

However, by playing sports, you will synthesize molecules such as endorphins, which will reduce your stress and fatigue.

You will sleep better and therefore relieve your migraines. "