migraines worse for many during covid pandemic: doc

covid-19 pandemic worries and stress can spark headaches and, worse, be a trigger for those suffering from migraines.“migraine sufferers walk a tight line when it comes to managing their symptoms, and covid-19 has been an impetus in derailing many otherwise well-controlled patients,” says dr. ian finkelstein, medical director of the toronto headache and pain clinic.increased physical and mental stressors, increased anxiety, and changes in daily routine, including working from home, have triggered worsening symptoms for many people, says finkelstein.plus, limited access to their headache specialists has made it tough for patients to manage their condition.migraines are one of the most severe and debilitating types of headaches, and impact close to three million canadians, 80% of them women. symptoms include throbbing head pain, nausea, vomiting and hypersensitivity to light and sounds.patients with chronic migraine — 15 or more days of severe headaches in a month — are more likely to have depression, anxiety, and chronic pain conditions.the world health organization ranks migraines as one of the top 20 most disabling diseases and notes that “a day lived with a severe migraine can be more disabling than blindness, paraplegia or angina.”finkelstein urges those suffering from a worsening of their migraines to document their episodes in a ‘headache diary’ using the app canadian migraine tracker at migrainetracker.ca.people should record the frequency and severity of headaches, triggers and the types of medication they are using, and share that information with a doctor or headache specialist.finkelstein also recommends taking up relaxation exercises or meditation and engaging in some type of physical exercise.migraine sufferers also need to make a concentrated effort to stick to a regular schedule when it comes to diet, hydration and sleep.if headaches are impacting your quality of life, and/or your reliance on medication use is increasing, find a headache specialist using your postal code via mychronicmigraine.ca. the tool also offers information, self-assessment, triggers and treatment options.finkelstein adds that use of headache relieving medications should be limited to less than 10 days per month to avoid rebound headaches.in addition, health canada-approved preventative migraine treatment options — such as botox or cgrp antibodies — can be effective. speak to a medical professional about these options.