5 Common Myths About Migraine, Debunked

Despite the fact that 37 million Americans suffer from migraines, myths persist about this painful, chronic, and often debilitating condition. If you have migraines, believing certain myths may prevent you from getting appropriate care. 

For June, known as Migraine & Headache Awareness Month, the team at Advanced Medical Care in Queens and Brooklyn, New York, aims to dispel some common migraine myths. Here, our experienced team refutes several myths with facts so you get the care you need. 

Myth 1: A migraine is just a really bad headache

Fact: Most headaches are tension headaches, which may occur in times of stress and usually affect both sides of your head. Migraines are a type of primary headache, which means there’s no underlying disease that causes them.

No matter how bad a tension headache is, it can’t be called a migraine. Migraines usually affect just one side of your head. They’re often accompanied by other symptoms, such as visual changes, such as seeing auras, or sensitivity to light, smells, and sounds.

Myth 2: Migraines always cause headaches

Fact: Certain types of migraine attacks don’t induce a headache. Some migraines only cause the visual change known as an aura, where you may see colors, waves, halos, or wiggly lines around objects. 

When you have a vestibular migraine, you lose your sense of balance and may feel that you’re on the deck of a wobbly boat. You may or may not feel head pain with this type of migraine.

Myth 3: If you don’t have auras, you don’t have migraines

Fact: Just as you don’t necessarily experience head pain with migraines, you also might not experience an aura. In fact, only 25%-30% of migraine sufferers have auras. 

Your neurologist may diagnose migraine based on a range of symptoms. You may have migraine if you:

• Have a headache that lasts 4-72 hours without treatment 
• Experience moderate to severe head pain
• Have head pain that’s either on one side or both sides
• Feel throbbing or pulsating head pain

An aura isn’t necessary for a migraine diagnosis. However, at least one of the following symptoms should be present:

• Aura
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Sensitivity to sound
• Sensitivity to light

You may also react strongly to certain smells. Regular physical activity, such as walking or climbing stairs, may worsen your pain. 

Myth 4: You should start with low-dose medication

Fact: The more aggressively and quickly you treat your migraine pain, the less you suffer. It doesn’t pay to start with a lower-than-normal dose of medication and only add more if the pain refuses to budge.

Both overtreating and undertreating migraine pain can lead to worsening headaches. If you try to ride out your migraine pain regularly, you may cause a condition called central sensitization, which means that you’ve trained your brain to create pain sensations.

Migraines tend to go through phases. You may have pre-pain symptoms, such as auras, that alert you to the onset of a migraine. As soon as you feel a migraine coming on, you can treat it. If you don’t start treatment immediately, don’t worry: You can take your medication even if you’re in an active phase of your migraine.

Work with your neurologist to find the right dose and combination of medications that keep you pain-free and active.

Myth 5: You can’t prevent migraines

Fact: You can adopt lifestyle changes that help you avoid your personal migraine triggers. In addition, the healthier your diet and the better your exercise regimen, the less likely you are to have a migraine.

The American Migraine Foundation suggests using the acronym SEEDS to help you manage migraines. SEEDS stands for lifestyle changes:

• S — prioritize SLEEP with good sleep hygiene 
• E — EXERCISE regularly
• E — EAT whole, fresh foods as part of a balanced diet
• D — Keep a migraine DIARY to identify your own triggers
• S — Manage STRESS with deep breathing, meditation, and other techniques

We may also prescribe treatments to help reduce the severity and number of headaches you get per month. Options include, but are not limited to, antiseizure medications, Botox® injections, and antidepressants.

Are you overwhelmed by migraine pain and severity? Get the expert neurology care you need to reduce and even prevent the pain of migraines by contacting Advanced Medical Care today. Call the location convenient to you, or book an appointment online.