4 Common Myths About Migraines, Debunked

When you have migraine, a neurological condition marked by chronic migraine headaches, you know how debilitating it can be. Thankfully, a personalized treatment plan can minimize or prevent your migraine flare-ups and bolster your quality of life.

Board-certified neurologist Dr. Farhad Elyaderani and his team in New Rochelle and Yonkers, New York, diagnose and effectively treat headache disorders, including migraine.

June is Migraine Awareness Month, making it a prime time to unlearn damaging migraine myths so you can make choices that support your wellbeing.

Myth 1: A migraine is “just a headache.”

Migraines are far more than bad headaches. Beyond general head pain, the episodes can cause a range of life-altering symptoms, such as:

• Throbbing, one-sided head pain that can keep you bedbound
• Difficulty speaking normally
• Intense fatigue
• Irritable or depressed moods
• Nausea and vomiting
• Vision changes, such as blind spots and zigzag lines
• Exhaustion and confusion

The headache itself may last for 4-72 hours. Various other symptoms may carry on for hours or days after that.

Myth 2: Light sensitivity always causes migraines

Bright lights trigger migraine attacks for many people, but that’s not the case for everyone with the disease. And while increased sensitivity to light can also indicate that a migraine is coming or underway, that sensitivity varies from person to person.

In many cases, light sensitivity occurs during the prodrome migraine stage, before pain unfolds. Rather than causing the migraine flare-up, the sensitivity is actually a sign that it’s already happening.

Myth 3: Coffee and chocolate always trigger migraines

Migraine triggers are very individual. For some people, hormonal shifts associated with chocolate consumption seem to fuel migraine attacks. For others, chocolate makes no difference.

Similarly, the caffeine present in both chocolate and coffee may pose problems or not when you’re migraine-prone. Particular amounts of caffeine actually help reduce migraine pain for some sufferers. The key is determining your personal migraine triggers so you can limit or avoid them without needlessly cutting every possible trigger from your life.

Myth 4: There’s little you can do to ease migraines

It’s natural to feel frustrated and hopeless if your attempts at alleviating your migraine woes bring little, if any, improvement. That’s where expert care comes in.

After an exam and a discussion of your symptoms and medical history, along with any necessary imaging tests, our team will personalize a treatment plan. 

That plan may include prescription medication to prevent migraines, beta-blockers, a nerve block, botulinum toxin (Botox®) injections, or vagus nerve stimulation. We can also talk you through smart lifestyle changes to consider.

To learn more about migraine myths or get started with expert neurological care, call Dr. Farhad Elyaderani or request an appointment online today.