by RYAN MILEJCZAK
Sponsored by Central Florida Health Care
Few things can derail your day like a headache. And for those who suffer from migraines, it’s more than just pain. It’s a full-body assault: throbbing, nausea, light sensitivity, and disruption that can last hours or even days. We often call life’s minor annoyances “headaches,” but for millions of people, real headaches and migraines are anything but minor.
“A headache can impact your life, but you’re usually able to push through and continue with your daily life. But migraines can be debilitating,” explains Stephanie Smith, APRN and Director of Advanced Practice Providers at Central Florida Health Care.
Headaches and migraines are similar; both are pain you feel primarily in your face and head. Each can take a variety of forms and have a variety of symptoms, but the key difference is that migraines are much more severe.
“Most regular headaches can be treated with over-the-counter medications and don’t happen as frequently. But migraines are a little bit different in that they have an intense, throbbing pain. They can cause sensitivity to light, sound, and other external factors, as well as nausea and vomiting. They really disrupt a person’s life,” Smith says.
Both can have a variety of triggers.
“There are a variety of things that cause headaches,” Smith explains. “Headaches can be brought on by stress, eye strain, and dehydration, for example, and even hormones can affect headaches. There are a lot of different factors.”
The triggers for migraines, however, are often trickier to nail down.
“Many of the same things that cause headaches can cause migraines, but the cause isn’t always clear,” she says. “Many migraines are what we call idiopathic, meaning we aren’t sure exactly what causes them.”
To help patients uncover the triggers to their migraines, healthcare providers will often recommend keeping a journal.
“We often recommend patients keep a journal of what possible triggers are for them specifically,” says Smith. “For example, some will notice that if they don’t sleep well for several nights, they’ll get a migraine. Or it can be certain foods or drinks, alcohol, or excessive sodium, to name a few.”
Thankfully, there are a variety of treatment options for both headaches and migraines.
“For headaches, over-the-counter medications like Tylenol, ibuprofen, and Excedrin are usually sufficient,” Smith says. “For migraines, there are a variety of different treatments. We’ll try over-the-counter medications first. If those don’t work, we have a variety of options, such as triptan medications or fioricet.”
If these options don’t work, other options for migraine relief include medications typically used to treat other conditions, such as antidepressants, beta blockers, and even Botox. Healthcare providers also recommend avoiding known migraine triggers.
In rare cases, a headache or a migraine can be a sign of something else going on in the body and may be a reason to consult a healthcare provider.
“We recommend going for evaluation and treatment if the pain is very different from how it normally feels or if it’s pain you’d describe as the worst pain of your life,” Smith explains. “In some cases, this can be a sign of something like a stroke. Really, there’s many different things it could be. If it feels different or it isn’t responding to your normal treatment, you should go in and get re-evaluated.”
Smith offers advice for anyone struggling with headaches and migraines.
“I’d recommend anyone struggling with headaches or migraines to focus on prevention. Sleep well, but not too much; avoid common triggers like alcohol and excessive sodium; and stay well hydrated, especially in the Florida climate. Finally, being active and managing stress can go a long way to reducing the severity and frequency of headaches and migraines.”