Pain like hitting the head with a hammer or heavy pain around the eyes… There are times in my life when I experience a headache like this. Headaches are common in everyday life, so you can think of them as insignificant. There are a lot of misconceptions regarding headaches and migraines. Sometimes the myths that confuse people don’t prevent or treat pain properly. The American health media ‘Prevention.com’ has compiled 5 myths and truths regarding headaches.
Myth #1: Migraines are just a bad headache
Fact: Migraine is a neurological disease that causes many different symptoms. Migraine sufferers may have nausea, dizziness, difficulty concentrating, sensitivity to light and noise, and speech problems. “These other symptoms don’t necessarily accompany a headache,” said Dr Mel Diamond, director of the National Headache Foundation. In fact, 1 in 4 migraine sufferers are unable to attend work or school due to symptoms, and 1 in 3 migraine sufferers are unable to attend family or social activities. There are many ways to relieve a migraine, but you may need a prescription from your doctor to help reduce the pain.
Myth 2: Sudden headaches… nothing to worry regarding
Fact: An out-of-the-box headache can be a sign of a problem, especially when accompanied by other symptoms. When in doubt, go to the emergency room. If you have a high fever and a stiff neck along with a headache, it might be meningitis. Headaches from vomiting or nausea can mean a concussion or migraine. Dr Timothy Wong, a physician, said: “It is especially worrisome if you have stroke symptoms and a headache at the same time, such as numbness or weakness on one side of your body, or trouble talking or walking.” If the pain is terrible, it can be a sign of an aneurysm or stroke and should be taken seriously. “If you have the worst headache of your life, that is, if the pain is so serious that you cannot do anything, you need an emergency diagnosis,” Dr. Wong added.
Myth #3: Quitting coffee will make your headaches go away
Fact: Caffeine can cause headaches, but it can also help relieve headaches. In fact, caffeine is a common ingredient in many headache and migraine medications. According to experts, why caffeine relieves migraines is still a matter of debate. Some people believe it relieves headaches by narrowing the blood vessels surrounding the brain and reducing blood flow. On the other hand, some believe that caffeine affects receptors that affect pain signals.
Stopping caffeine suddenly can cause withdrawal headaches. It is important to strike a balance. For example, if you like caffe latte, it is recommended to consume 200 mg or less of caffeine (2 cups of coffee) at the same time every day to avoid caffeine headaches.
If caffeine interferes with sleep, you should cut down on caffeine. Lack of sleep is a trigger for migraines. It is recommended to gradually replace regular coffee with decaffeinated coffee. “Caffeine withdrawal headaches can be avoided by gradually reducing the amount of caffeine over a few weeks,” said Dr. Wong.
Myth #4: Wine and aged cheese cause headaches and migraines
Fact: Aged cheese, salty foods, and wine can cause headaches in some people. However, there are no foods that cause headache problems in everyone. Only 20% of people with headaches are thought to be food-sensitive.
“Migraine sufferers can have different triggers, so a removal process is needed to find the problem,” says Dr. Wong. In other words, keep a journal before you cut out certain foods from your diet. Keep a journal of the date and time of your headache, its severity, how much you slept the night before, the weather, everything you ate or drank before the headache, all medications you took, and the date of your last menstrual period. Finding specific patterns can be difficult. However, if you have two headaches following eating wine and cheese, try cutting off the wine and cheese one by one to find out which one is the cause.
Myth 5: Over-the-counter drugs work best for common headaches
Fact: Not so for people who suffer from frequent headaches. Taking medications such as Tylenol, Advil, Aleve, and Exedrine to treat headaches 2 to 3 times a week or more can cause rebound headaches, or rebound headaches, when the effectiveness of the medicines declines. “Withdrawal is another headache,” Diamond explains. One of these signs is waking up at night or early in the morning with a headache.
So, if you have headaches several times a week, it’s a good idea to see your doctor. You can be prescribed preventative medications that can help without causing a rebound headache. Also, staying hydrated, exercising regularly, getting enough sleep, and avoiding pain triggers can help keep headaches away.
Reporter Lee Bo-hyun [email protected]
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