Migraine And Allergy Confusion Leading To Wrong Medication Choices
Posted August 30, 2006 12:00 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
You may assume your inflamed sinuses are causing the pain in your head, but a recent study suggests that allergy sufferers could in fact be suffering from a migraine.
Allergy and asthma experts in New Jersey followed nearly 300 children and adults, both with and without allergies, and found that 34 percent of those who suffered from hay fever also displayed the symptoms of migraine.
Only four percent of participants without hay fever experienced the migraine symptoms.
That means patients with allergies were 14 times more likely to show symptoms consistent with migraine.
The study, published in the Annals of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology, suggests that many headaches assumed to be sinus-related may in fact be migraines. Both conditions share very similar symptoms.
Sinus headaches are often triggered by allergies, which cause the sinus cavities to become inflamed.
Migraines are characterized by throbbing pain, usually on one side of the head. These severe headaches are also often accompanied by nausea and a heightened sensitivity to light and sound.
“Like somebody stabbing you in the head, and it’s constant. It doesn’t go away,” migraine sufferer Maureen Gardiner explains
“I’ll have to go home, lie down. I have ice packs on my head, ice packs on the back of my neck, dark room, and just don’t move.”
The study’s authors say it’s important to distinguish sinus headaches from migraine, as the latter can be managed with painkillers and other types of medication.
The research team said there’s no evidence to suggest that antihistamines used to treat hay fever can relieve migraines.
Histamine – the chemical released by the immune system during allergic reactions – may trigger migraines by causing inflammation and blood vessel dilation.
What Are Migraines?
They’re severe and disabling headaches. Sufferers can sometimes tell one is coming on through sensory warnings such as flashes of light, blind spots, or tingling in the arm or leg.
Three times more women than men suffer from migraines.
What Are The Signs And Symptoms?
- Moderate to severe pain, often concentrated on one side of the head
- Headache with a pulsing or throbbing quality
- Pain that gets worse with physical activity
- Pain that affects your everyday activities
- Nausea with or without vomiting
- Sensitivity to light and sound
There are a number of signals some people experience before a migraine begins:
- Flashes of light
- Zig zag lines in your field of vision
- Slowly spreading blind spots in your field of vision
- Pins and needles in one arm or leg
- Rarely, language and speech problems
A few more include:
- Craving for sweets
- Feelings of elation or intense energy
- Thirst
- Drowsiness
- Irritability or depression
Migraine Triggers:
Hormonal Changes: Fluctuations in progesterone and estrogen levels tend to cause migraines in women. Women often report experiencing migraines right before or during their period. Pregnancy and menopause are also known to trigger the headaches.
Foods: Different foods trigger migraines in certain people, including alcohol – especially beer and red wine – chocolate, aged cheeses, pickled or fermented foods, aspartame and caffeine.
Stress
Sensory Stimuli: Bright lights or intense smells.
Physical Activity: Intense physical exertion or sexual activity could cause migraines. Changes in sleep patterns can also trigger the headaches.
Environmental Changes: Changes of season, barometric pressure, or altitude could trigger a migraine.
Certain Medications
Treatment:
Pain-Relieving Medications:
Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS): These include medications like Advil and Motrin. They may relieve the pain of mild migraines.
Triptans: These were the first class of drugs created specifically to combat migraine, but these medications have side effects that can include dizziness, nausea and muscle weakness.
Ergots: These include drugs like ergomar, DHE 45, and dyhydroegotamine nasal mist. These tend to have more side effects that triptans.
Nausea Medications: Reglan is often used to treat nausea associated with migraine, but not the headache itself.
Preventative Medications:
Cardiovascular Drugs: Beta blockers, which are commonly used to treat high blood pressure and heart disease, can reduce the frequency of migraines.
Antidepressants: Some antidepressants are good at warding off migraines, including Pamelor and Vivactill may help prevent the headaches.
NSAIDS: Regularly taking an over the counter NSAID like Advil may reduce the frequency of migraines. Long-term use of these drugs could increase your risk of heart disease.
Anti-seizure Drugs: Some of these drugs, like Depakote, Depakene, and Topamax can prevent migraines, although experts aren’t exactly sure why or how. These drugs are used to treat bipolar disorder and epilepsy. These medications could cause side effects such as dizziness, nausea and weakness.
Cyproheptadine: This antihistamine is known to ward off migraines by affecting serotonin activity.
Botox: Some people who’ve gotten Botox to reduce facial wrinkles have notices a decrease in the amount of migraines they suffer, but it’s unclear why.
Information courtesy of the Mayo Clinic.
