More than 37 million Americans suffer from migraines, according to the American Migraine Foundation. The World Health Organization places migraines as one of the 10 most disabling medical illnesses worldwide. While medication is available, it doesn’t work for everyone.
Leave it to TikTok to serve up the latest “solution.” The viral trend is called the McMigraine Meal, which consists of fries and a regular soda. Jump on the social media site and you’ll find hundreds of people trying the mix in an effort to rid themselves of the headache pain.
According to the American Migraine Foundation, migraines are a disabling neurological disease with different symptoms and different treatment approaches compared to other headache disorders.
Dr. Kay Kennis, a trustee for the Migraine Trust, told the BBC there are elements of the McMigraine Meal that can help stave off an attack. However, they aren’t innate to a McDonald’s meal.
“The caffeine in the coke can act as a nerve disruptor, it is a substance that affects nerve activity. For some, that disturbance works in a positive way,” Kennis said. “There are some painkillers that people take for migraines that have caffeine – and some do respond well to that – but we don’t fully know why.”
However, Kennis warns against caffeinated sodas as a way to manage your migraine. “Too much caffeine can be a trigger too – and you can end up in a worse situation in the long run,” she said.
She also warned that not only is fast-food often ultra-processed and not conducive to a healthy diet, but it can also contain high levels of Tyramine, a natural compound commonly found in many foods, which can actually cause severe migraines.
