Headache vs. Migraine — Understand Your Pain

For many who expertise headache ache, it is very important perceive what you feel with the intention to establish 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 supplies perception on the most typical sort — migraines.

Headache Problems 
A headache is classed by the Nationwide Institute of Neurological Problems and Stroke (a part of the Nationwide Institutes of Well being) as delicate to extreme ache on one or either side of the top. Headache issues are the most typical type of ache within the physique, typically inflicting folks to overlook work, college or social occasions. The time period “headache dysfunction” refers to a variety of various kinds of complications, that are categorized as main or secondary. 

Major complications should not brought on by one other medical situation. The most typical main complications are: 

Migraine — an intense, throbbing ache within the head lasting between 4 to 72 hours that has occurred not less than 5 instances all through one’s life. Migraines are related to nausea, vomiting, and sensitivity to gentle and sound. Some folks can also expertise seeing zigzagging gentle or lack of imaginative and prescient with a migraine. 

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

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

Secondary complications outcome as signs of different well being points. Widespread underlying circumstances that can lead to secondary complications embrace:

• Emotional circumstances like stress, despair and nervousness
• Fever or an infection
• Harm to the top or different physique trauma
• Hypertension
• Remedy 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 surroundings that won’t set off migraines,” says Dr. Karim. “It’s finest to create a piece surroundings with tender lighting, and to take a break from the pc each 20 to half-hour.” 

Migraines and Girls 

“Girls 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 identified to trigger migraines in ladies.”

In line with the American Migraine Basis, ladies could expertise a migraine throughout their menstrual cycle, typically on account of low estrogen ranges. Then again, ladies who are suffering from migraines could expertise a lower in migraine frequency throughout being pregnant, on account of an increase in estrogen ranges. Migraines could turn into extra frequent within the years main as much as menopause and reduce throughout and after menopause. 

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

“For the reason that begin of the pandemic, we now have seen a considerable improve within the variety of sufferers who’re having migraines and different sorts of complications,” says Dr. Karim. “Stress, nervousness and despair stemming from environmental, social and way of life modifications through the pandemic have contributed to the rise.” 

Dr. Karim suggests monitoring stress and nervousness carefully. Not solely are these emotions triggers for migraines on their very own, however they will additionally result in insomnia, one other frequent reason behind migraines. Individuals who have been contaminated with COVID-19 are additionally at increased threat for experiencing migraines. 

“A migraine is a typical symptom of COVID-19,” says Dr. Karim. “In reality, complications and migraines proceed to be a main symptom of post-COVID-19 for these often called long-haulers.”

Migraine Remedies 

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

Dwelling a wholesome way of life may help decrease the danger of main headache issues, together with migraines. This consists of getting the correct quantity of sleep, maintaining a healthy diet, staying hydrated, and exercising often. 

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

For instance, gluten and caffeine will be frequent migraine triggers. Nonetheless, caffeine will also 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 treatment 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 

Should you’re preventing migraines or associated signs regularly, there could also be different medical points to deal with. Contact your physician in case you are 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 day by day actions, please speak to your physician,” says Dr. Karim. “Your  supplier will know when you want skilled therapy and might join you with specialists to assist present aid if wanted.” 

Key Takeaways

When coping with headache ache, bear in mind:

• It’s essential to know the distinction between a main and secondary headache, which may help with therapy 
• Easy way of life modifications like taking breaks through the workday, exercising, getting ample relaxation and staying hydrated may help reduce the possibility of main complications occuring 
• Understanding headache triggers is the perfect preventative measure 
• In case you are dealing with constant ache on account of a headache or migraine, it could be time to name your physician 

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