Myth: Migraines Aren’t Serious
Most types of migraine in and of themselves are not serious; however, chronic migraine can continue for years and is debilitating and disabling—becoming a serious issue for patients. These patients usually take many medications, are obese, can have big changes in weight and severe insomnia, don’t exercise enough, and develop other illnesses. Migraine can severely impact quality of life ; many people living with migraine have reported reduced productivity while at work, lack of promotion, loss of jobs, and a disruption in their family, social, and leisure activities.
Migraine attacks vary from one person to another and can be quite different from one attack to another in the same person. Hemiplegic migraine, a rare and distinct subtype that is sometimes inherited, is characterized by neurologic symptoms (multiple auras, including a significant weakness or paralysis on 1 side of the body). Although these patients seem much sicker and have multiple types of auras and 1-sided weakness with a prolonged headache, most recover without serious consequences.
Myth: Lack of Sleep Causes Migraine
Yes, lack of sleep is a known trigger for migraine in many people, but lack of sleep is not the cause of migraine. Sleep deprivation and irregular sleep patterns can disrupt the delicate balance of neurotransmitters and hormones in the brain, potentially triggering migraine in susceptible individuals. Additionally, inadequate sleep may contribute to increased stress and tension, which are also common triggers for migraine. In fact, many people with migraine do have sleep issues, which can range from trouble falling asleep to early morning awakening without being able to get back to sleep or frequently interrupted sleep each night. Correcting the sleep problem is part of the migraine therapy. Patients should be checked for sleep apnea if they wake with headache in the morning. Medication overuse headache should also be considered.
Establishing a regular sleep routine and ensuring an adequate amount of sleep can be important components of managing migraine symptoms, particularly for those who find a connection between their sleep patterns and the onset of a migraine attack. However, the relationship between sleep and migraine can vary widely among individuals, and other factors may also contribute to migraine triggers.
Myth: Caffeine Causes Migraine
This is a myth; caffeine does not cause migraine but definitely can be a trigger for some people. Coffee and caffeine and migraine have a complex relationship : excessive caffeine consumption or withdrawal can trigger migraine attacks, but caffeine can also help alleviate headaches (including migraine) due to its analgesic properties. Caffeine is a major component of many over-the-counter medicines for migraine. Some people find drinking coffee or a soda or taking a caffeine tablet at the onset of a migraine attack lowers the intensity of a migraine headache. Regular use of caffeine, either as “treatment” or for pleasure, is not advised in patients with migraine. Most doctors limit caffeine to a regular cup of coffee or tea per day, with no caffeine-containing sodas or chocolate in their patients with migraine; caffeine withdrawal is also a frequent migraine trigger. Patients can notice withdrawal headaches when they stop coffee, even if they are only consuming 1 cup per day. Most people drink a lot more.