Migraine Myths Ballston Spa NY
Migraine Myths
Millions of Americans are affected by migraines, but according to experts, the disease is often underdiagnosed, misdiagnosed, or simply misunderstood. Read on as we debunk the disorder's biggest myths.
Myth: A migraine is just a severe headache.In reality, headaches are just one symptom of migraine disease. Unlike a typical headache, migraine disease has many symptoms, including nausea, vomiting, auras (light spots), and sensitivity to light and sound. In serious cases, migraine can also cause numbness, difficulty in speech, and severe semi-hemispherical head pain. A single migraine attack can last for hours, days, or even weeks.
Myth: People who are depressed, uptight, or compulsive are more likely to get migraine headaches, which are caused by psychological factors.Migraine is a neurological disease, not a psychological disorder. Researchers who have studied migraine disease have found no links to certain personality types. Migraine pain is caused when serotonin levels drop, and researchers believe this causes the trigeminal nerve to release substances called neuropeptides, which travel to the brain's outer covering. There they cause blood vessels to become dilated and inflamed, which results in headache pain.
Myth: Migraine headaches are caused by allergies.There are no proven links between allergies and migraine attacks. Allergies and headaches are common occurrences, so when people have both, they may assume there is a connection...
