For those who consider themselves to be a part of the 鈥淢igraine girlies鈥� community, you may be familiar with the recent McMigraine trend on TikTok鈥檚 #migraine page.
This wellness hack is one that promotes ordering 惭肠顿辞苍补濒诲鈥檚 fries and a Coke as a newfound, DIY migraine treatment. In fact, one user (whose TikTok bio says that she is a future heart surgery nurse) claims that this order is 鈥渓iterally the only thing that can fix a migraine.鈥�
Let鈥檚 not jump the gun.
First, What Is a Migraine?
A migraine is more than just a bad headache, and the it elicits vary from person to person. For many, the pain is throbbing, one-sided, and unrelenting, often accompanied by visual disturbances, nausea, dizziness, exhaustion, and extreme sensitivity to light, sound, and smells. These attacks can last anywhere from a few hours to several days, making it extremely difficult to carry out everyday tasks.
The exact cause of this complex neurological condition isn鈥檛 fully understood, but researchers believe it involves abnormal brain activity that temporarily affects nerve signals, chemicals, and blood vessels in the brain (though this is a crude oversimplification).
Given the often-debilitating impacts of migraines, it makes sense to latch onto the first remedy you find so you can get back to your daily activities. However, the McMigraine won鈥檛 cut it. In response to the high volume of videos from users trying this hack, health practitioners have taken to the app. One argument that remains consistent in these videos is that this combination may provide temporary relief from the migraine, but it certainly is not reliable in the long term.
The Fallacy of 鈥淥ne-Size-Fits-All"
Migraines are a difficult condition for individuals and physicians to tackle because triggers can be highly individualized. For example, one person may suffer from migraines induced by strong smells or fumes, while another person may have dietary triggers, and another鈥檚 trigger may be both of these聽things or something entirely different. And to make matters even more complicated, not everyone responds to the same treatments. Some find relief with prescription medications like triptans or NSAIDs to stop an attack, while others benefit from preventive options like beta blockers, tricyclic antidepressants, or even Botox injections. Finding the right combination of treatment and lifestyle adjustments often involves a long process of trial and error, and possibly a small notebook filled with cryptic entries like 鈥渃heese + rain = 48-hour migraine.鈥�
This is all to say that because migraines are so individualized, with each person having a somewhat unique experience with the condition, it is nearly impossible for there to be a single cure. As someone who鈥檚 had severe, frequent migraines for years (Hosna here!), I haven鈥檛 tried the McMigraine hack鈥攏ot because it鈥檚 not tempting, but the nausea alone makes food unthinkable. I wouldn鈥檛 mind indulging if that weren鈥檛 the case.
The McMigraine may help individuals whose migraines are influenced by caffeine and carbohydrate intake. Caffeine can play a complex role in migraine pain management. For some, it can provide relief during an attack, and for others, it is a trigger. This is why it is important for individuals to recognize how caffeine is a double-edged sword鈥攃apable of both helping and harming, depending on the person and the context.
Additionally, Coke with its high-sugar content and fries in all their high-carbohydrate glory can help temporarily correct an electrolyte or blood sugar imbalance. For individuals who have migraine attacks triggered by skipped meals, this fast-food 鈥渉ack鈥� may just do the trick. This could be why some social media claims aren鈥檛 necessarily baseless; some people may truly find relief from this combination. But an anecdote should not be mistaken for a medically sound solution for all.
There may be a better, healthier solution at hand than just eating at 惭肠顿辞苍补濒诲鈥檚 every time you have a migraine. 惭肠顿辞苍补濒诲鈥檚 meals have a high saturated fat content, which can cause other health issues, such as inflammation and high blood pressure. These are risk factors for migraines, meaning that the McMigraine trend can do more harm than good in the long run.
Healthier Options (That Won鈥檛 Clog Your Arteries)
If the McMigraine trend reveals anything, it's that people are desperate for relief鈥攁nd understandably so. But there are healthier and more reliable ways to manage migraines that don鈥檛 involve ultra-processed food.
For starters, eating regular meals can help maintain stable blood sugar levels, which may prevent attacks in those sensitive to hunger as a trigger. Staying well-hydrated is equally important, as even mild dehydration can provoke migraines in some people. Caffeine, while sometimes useful, should be used in moderation because relying on large doses can increase the risk of rebound headaches or caffeine withdrawal migraines.
Of course, no lifestyle 鈥渉ack鈥� can replace proper medical management. Migraine treatment plans should be developed with a healthcare provider鈥攐ften a neurologist, but sometimes a general practitioner鈥攁nd tailored to an individual鈥檚 needs.
Another valuable tool is keeping a migraine diary. Tracking when migraines occur, their intensity, duration, suspected triggers, and what treatments did or didn't聽work can help both patients and physicians identify patterns and make more informed decisions.
Managing migraines isn鈥檛 chasing miracle remedies. It鈥檚 about building a strategy, one that is sustainable, evidence-based, and reflects your unique needs. And no matter how tempting it might be in聽the moment, a 惭肠顿辞苍补濒诲鈥檚 combo isn鈥檛 a substitute for that.
At the heart of the McMigraine trend, and countless other viral 鈥渨ellness hacks,鈥� is the idea that complex health issues can be solved with quick fixes. But health isn't something that can be 鈥渉acked.鈥� These trends oversimplify conditions that require nuanced care.
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Eva Kellner is a recent graduate from the Faculty of Arts and Science, with a major in Environment. Her research interests include urban green spaces, urban agriculture, and outdoor community spaces - all as promoters of climate resilience among city-dwellers.
Hosna Akhgary is a BSc candidate at 黑料不打烊 University, majoring in Pharmacology.
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