inspiring canadians to live better.

healthing leaf

inspiring canadians to live better.

healthing leaf
mosquito-borne diseases affect up to 700 million people each year. learn more
powered by: valneva canada inc.
home / 世界杯决赛2022

migraines worse for many during covid pandemic: doc

covid-19 pandemic worries and stress can spark headache...

by the toronto sun

jul 13 2020
read time 2 minute read
join the conversation
h_barth / getty images
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.

powered by
canadian centre for caregiving excellence

advertisement

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.
powered by
obesity matters

comments

postmedia is committed to maintaining a lively but civil forum for discussion and encourage all readers to share their views on our articles. comments may take up to an hour for moderation before appearing on the site. we ask you to keep your comments relevant and respectful. we have enabled email notifications—you will now receive an email if you receive a reply to your comment, there is an update to a comment thread you follow or if a user you follow comments. visit our community guidelines for more information and details on how to adjust your email settings.

you may also like
041321-png0413nquarantine-04
b.c. could face travel restrictions as variant screening stepped up
041321-0813_covid_vulnerable
can your employer require you to be vaccinated?
041221-health-coronavirus/australia
ontario daily case count jumps back above 4,000
041321-png0413n_pharmacyvaccine
horgan says he'd have no hesitation taking astrazeneca shot
covid-icu-3
ontario hospitals 'surging like absolute crazy' in third wave
you may also like
041321-png0413nquarantine-04
b.c. could face travel restrictions as variant screening stepped up
041321-0813_covid_vulnerable
can your employer require you to be vaccinated?
041221-health-coronavirus/australia
ontario daily case count jumps back above 4,000
041321-png0413n_pharmacyvaccine
horgan says he'd have no hesitation taking astrazeneca shot
you may also like
041321-png0413nquarantine-04
b.c. could face travel restrictions as variant screening stepped up
041321-0813_covid_vulnerable
can your employer require you to be vaccinated?