"Chilling Relief: The Power of Cool Air in Halting Acute Migraines"
Transnasal evaporative cooling shows promise as a nonpharmacologic treatment for aborting migraine attacks, providing relief for most patients without the need for rescue medication. The cooling device works by blowing dry, ambient air across the nasal turbinates, potentially modulating the sphenopalatine ganglion implicated in migraines. The study, presented at the American Headache Society Annual Meeting, found that the lowest flow rate of 6 liters per minute was most effective, with an 88% pain relief rate and a 50% pain-free rate at 2 hours. However, the study was terminated due to a low subject accrual rate, and further research is needed to optimize efficacy and tolerability.