The "McDonald's Cure"

I'm going to take a stab in the dark here, and assume that most readers of this newsletter are not taken in by the current "McDonald's Cure" craze. However, the viral conversation is a great opportunity to talk about some migraine and headache basics.

In case you didn't know, the current viral migraine tip is this - go to McDonald's, get a large Coke and fries, and watch your headache melt away.

Here's the short story. There are reasons why this remedy sometimes helps. And there are reasons why it's almost never a good idea.

Similar tips have gone around for years. A shot of sugar, caffeine, and salt can come in many forms, and this is one of many.

So let's break it down:

Carbonated Beverages: Apparently some people in some situations find that carbonated beverages help fight nausea. But with some of the considerations below, I would recommend some mineral water without sugar if you really think it helps. Ginger is also a great natural nausea-fighter, but as the article points out, ginger ale is probably not a good option.
Sugar: Sugar may offer some temporary relief, but it's almost certainly the worst thing on the list, most definitely in the long term and quite possibly in the short term. One of the best lifestyle changes for migraine patients is to avoid sugar swings. Sugar and its relationship to migraine is complex, but many years of research has convinced this writer that cutting way back on sugar, especially refined sugars, is one of the most important long term migraine treatments.
Caffeine: Caffeine is another tricky one, because it can bring short term relief and long term disaster. I wouldn't even generally recommend a painkiller which contains caffeine, because of the longer term dangers.
Water: All right, now we're on to something. Dehydration may be a big part of your headache, and drinking some water as early on in the headache cycle as possible is a great idea. And, mix it with some...
Salt: Yes, the water/salt combination is the best thing going for this "remedy". But I would recommend a handful of salty nuts, or a bit of salt in your water, avoiding the caffeine and sugar.
Potatoes: Yes, continuing our discussion of french fries. Potatoes also can contribute to sugar spikes.
Other stuff: What other ingredients are in McDonald's fries and Coke? I'll let you ask them. But I prefer to eat things when I know and trust all the ingredients.

Many younger migraine sufferers are not yet aware of the dangers of migraine rebound (migraine coming back after you think you've gotten rid of it) and worsening migraine over several years, leading to chronic migraine.

A look at the statistics tells us that this is a massive problem, although many people probably place it in the "it won't happen to me" category. Or, they simply want to end their current pain and aren't thinking about future pain (entirely understandable).

I'll include a few more resources below for you to investigate, but the obvious question is, what should I do instead?

Again, the water and salt are in the approved category. If carbonated water helps you with nausea, give mineral water a try.

Instead of hitting your body with caffeine and sugar all at once, try keeping it relatively constant over time - and aim for low quantities, especially when it comes to sugar.

If you tried the McDonald's cure, but haven't yet seen a specialist, I would recommend that as your next step. Migraine and headache can be complex and can have a variety of causes. Taking increasing amounts of "painkillers" is probably the worst thing you can do, especially if you haven't seen a specialist yet.

For more information, check out the links below.

A few things to read...

Here are a few links related to the above article:

A Message to Youth with Migraine - written a few years ago, but an excellent place to start if you've just started having migraine pain.
For an introduction to caffeine and headache, check out A Coffee Headache? Caffeine and Headaches and Caffeine Pills for Headache?.
For a look at the impact of too much sugar, check out Another Sugar-Migraine Link. For a more practical approach, try How To Quit Sugar (1) and How To Quit Sugar (2)
Neurologist Dr. Josh Turknett has become well-known for his "starve and sink" method for treating a migraine that's already started. It's in some ways the opposite of the "McDonald's Cure" as you'll see. It's listed as Category #3: Attack the Beast! in this article.
A fascinating in-depth look at the complexity of modern sugar consumption can be found in The Case Against Sugar by Gary Taubes.

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