Putting the Brakes on Life
When you suffer from a migraine, your entire life put on hold. The pain is so droning and excruciating, that you’re lucky if you can even leave your bed. While the official cause of a migraine is still unknown, ear, nose, and throat doctors can point to a few potential factors that could be influencing the migraine. Here’s what they want you to know.
The Difference Between a Migraine and a Headache
First, you need to understand if you are suffering from a migraine or just a really bad headache. There are a few key differences between the two.
Headaches, for example, can be described as pain in the head, neck, or face. They’re often caused by tension. Some headaches can also be brought on as a side-effect of certain medications, stress, or even an infection. Headaches can also come in cluster form. This is typically felt right behind the eye. Cluster headaches are described as headaches that occur at the same time. Sometimes they can occur for several weeks.
Migraines, on the other hand, occur primarily in the head. It can cause severe pain to the point where the person suffering from it has to go to the hospital. It can also have other symptoms.
There are a few phases that a migraine goes through. The first phase often involves symptoms like mood swings, food cravings, yawning, stiffness in the neck area, constipation or diarrhea, and sensitivity to light or sounds.
The second phase involves changes to your senses. You may experience flashing lights, blurred vision, zigzagging lines, or blind spots. Your motor skills may also suffer. You may slur your speech or have difficulty in writing words.
Eventually, you’ll reach the third phase which is the headache phase. Not everyone will experience headaches, but those that do may find the pain to be extremely severe.
The last phase involves feelings of exhaustion or even a general feeling of illness.
Possible Causes of Migraines
ENT doctors believe that migraines may be triggered due to other problems in the body. For example, problems like sinusitis, tonsillitis, and ear infections could all influence the development of a migraine.
When the particular nerves in those areas are inflamed due to the infection, it could cause the nerves in the head to also become inflamed. Those who suffer from sinus infections, for example, frequently suffer from headaches. Therefore, there is a direct cause and effect relationship between the nerves in the sinus system and those within the head.
If you suffer from migraines, then it might be worth visiting an ENT doctor to determine if your eyes, nose, or throat is infected by something. If treated, you may find that your migraine also disappears.
Schedule an Appointment
Migraines can disrupt your life. One way to help control your migraines is to visit your ENT doctor; they can inspect your head area to determine if anything is influencing your migraine. Experience less pain today by scheduling an appointment.