Headache vs. Migraine — Perceive Your Ache

For individuals who expertise headache ache, you will need to perceive what you feel to be able to determine the kind of headache, deal with the ache and make modifications to keep away from the event of a persistent situation. Halima Karim, MD, a neurologist with Dignity Well being Woodland Clinic, shares extra about headache issues and offers perception on the most typical kind — migraines.

Headache Problems 
A headache is assessed by the Nationwide Institute of Neurological Problems and Stroke (a part of the Nationwide Institutes of Well being) as gentle to extreme ache on one or each side of the pinnacle. Headache issues are the most typical type of ache within the physique, usually inflicting folks to overlook work, faculty or social occasions. The time period “headache dysfunction” refers to a lot of various kinds of complications, that are labeled as major or secondary. 

Major complications should not attributable to one other medical situation. The commonest major complications are: 

Migraine — an intense, throbbing ache within the head lasting between 4 to 72 hours that has occurred no less than 5 occasions all through one’s life. Migraines are related to nausea, vomiting, and sensitivity to mild and sound. Some folks can also expertise seeing zigzagging mild or lack of imaginative and prescient with a migraine. 

Rigidity — also referred to as a “muscle contraction headache” or “stress headache,” pressure complications contain boring, bandlike ache across the head and may have an effect on the brow, again of the pinnacle or neck. Rigidity complications might final from half-hour as much as per week. 

Cluster — extreme ache on one aspect of the pinnacle and related to signs occurring on the identical aspect of the pinnacle together with, a pink or teary eye, runny or stuffy nostril, and sweating. This sort of headache can return between 1-8 occasions per day and a cluster cycle can final for weeks, even months. 

Secondary complications outcome as signs of different well being points. Frequent underlying circumstances that may end up in secondary complications embrace:

• Emotional circumstances like stress, despair and anxiousness
• Fever or an infection
• Damage to the pinnacle or different physique trauma
• Hypertension
• Medicine overuse
• Dehydration
• Insomnia

Extra About Migraines 

The American Migraine Basis estimates 144 million folks worldwide undergo migraines for 15 days or extra over the course of three months.  

“Your imaginative and prescient and posture are essential features to contemplate when creating a piece setting that won’t set off migraines,” says Dr. Karim. “It’s finest to create a piece setting with delicate lighting, and to take a break from the pc each 20 to half-hour.” 

Migraines and Ladies 

“Ladies are more likely to expertise migraines primarily due to  hormonal fluctuations they expertise all through their lives,” says Dr. Karim. “Each ends of the reproductive cycle, puberty and menopause, in addition to month-to-month hormonal modifications that happen throughout a menstrual cycle are recognized to trigger migraines in ladies.”

Based on the American Migraine Basis, ladies might expertise a migraine throughout their menstrual cycle, usually as a consequence of low estrogen ranges. Alternatively, ladies that suffer from migraines might expertise a lower in migraine frequency throughout being pregnant, as a consequence of an increase in estrogen ranges. Migraines might grow to be extra frequent within the years main as much as menopause and reduce throughout and after menopause. 

Triggers and Causes of Migraines As a consequence of COVID-19 

“For the reason that begin of the pandemic, we’ve seen a considerable improve within the variety of sufferers who’re having migraines and different varieties of complications,” says Dr. Karim. “Stress, anxiousness and despair stemming from environmental, social and life-style modifications throughout the pandemic have contributed to the rise.” 

Dr. Karim suggests monitoring stress and anxiousness intently. Not solely are these emotions triggers for migraines on their very own, however they’ll additionally result in insomnia, one other widespread reason behind migraines. Individuals who have been contaminated with COVID-19 are additionally at greater threat for experiencing migraines. 

“A migraine is a typical symptom of COVID-19,” says Dr. Karim. “Actually, complications and migraines proceed to be a major symptom of post-COVID-19 for these generally known as long-haulers.”

Migraine Remedies 

Your physician will decide the suitable measures to take, whether or not that be preventive life-style modifications, or a process like SPG block therapy, during which the group of nerve cells referred to as Sphenopalatine Ganglion’s (SPG) linked to the principle nerve concerned in complications is blocked by numbing remedy. 

Residing a wholesome life-style might help decrease the danger of major headache issues, together with migraines. This contains getting the correct quantity of sleep, maintaining a healthy diet, staying hydrated, and exercising usually. 

“Know your migraines — migraine ache presents in another way in every particular person, so avoiding one’s private triggers by making more healthy life-style selections is step one in treating migraines,” says Dr. Karim.

For instance, gluten and caffeine could be widespread migraine triggers. Nevertheless, caffeine can be useful for relieving acute migraine ache. Different pure methods of treating a migraine embrace, train, avoiding stress, cognitive remedy, taking nutritional vitamins and dietary supplements like magnesium and Riboflavin (B2), maintaining a healthy diet, staying hydrated and getting sufficient relaxation. 

“Over-the-counter medicines can be utilized as momentary aid for migraines, nevertheless these shouldn’t be thought-about a therapy for migraine,” says Dr. Karim. “These medicines are only a Band-Assist for ache, and if overused, will create extra issues in future, together with additional complications as results of remedy overuse or harm to the abdomen and gut.” 

Dr. Karim additionally notes that any over-the-counter medicines shouldn’t be taken a couple of to 2 days per week. 

When to See a Physician 

For those who’re combating migraines or associated signs incessantly, there could also be different medical points to handle. Contact your physician if you’re experiencing a rise within the frequency or depth of headache occurrences or if the ache is accompanied by numbness, weak point, vertigo, fainting or cognitive points. 

“If complications are prohibiting your every day actions, please discuss to your physician,” says Dr. Karim. “Your  supplier will know should you want skilled therapy and may join you with specialists to assist present aid if wanted.” 

Key Takeaways

When coping with headache ache, keep in mind:

• It’s essential to know the distinction between a major and secondary headache, which might help with therapy 
• Easy life-style modifications like taking breaks throughout the workday, exercising, getting ample relaxation and staying hydrated might help reduce the prospect of major complications occuring 
• Understanding headache triggers is the most effective preventative measure 
• In case you are going through constant ache as a consequence of a headache or migraine, it could be time to name your physician 

For those who don’t have a major care doctor, go to our “Discover a Physician” web page to study extra about Dignity Well being Medical Group physicians close to you.