Younger people experience 70% more headaches than their elders, making the appearance of what is known as a geriatric migraine to be very unique. The onset of new headaches over the age of 70 can be very troubling and could indicate other health issues.
Difference Of A Late-Life Headache
Headaches in the elderly tend to create more distress than their younger counterparts. While any migraine is uncomfortable and often accompanied by other symptoms, in people over 65 years of age, chronic or reoccurring headaches can significantly alter their quality of life. Many older patients can be misdiagnosed, as the appearance of a migraine leaves them in a more vegetative state than normal, leaving doctors to consider other health problems.
Similar to migraines experienced in people 20-50 years of age, geriatric migraines also are accompanied by some nagging symptoms. These sufferers may experience vision issues, such as temporary blindness or blurred vision, hearing loss, clumsiness, slurred speech, ringing ears, and vertigo. Following the initial attack, doctors may need to rule out the presence of a seizure. Should the migraine episodes become more frequent, preventative medications can be taken to alleviate symptoms, such as aspirin. Be mindful to consider and inform your physician of all other medication, both prescription and over the counter (including herbs and vitamins) that you are taking to ensure there will be no adverse reactions with new medication for migraines.
There are two common causes for the onset of reoccurring headaches in the elderly. One reason is head trauma. For the elderly, head trauma is usually the result of a slip or fall. A recent study showed that people over the age of 65 slip and fall at least once a year. The appearance of headaches following head trauma occurs in nearly 90% of those injured. Lastly, the presence of a stroke could leave someone facing chronic headaches. Nearly 50% of all stroke victims experience a painfully debilitating, if not incapacitating headache. Should you or a loved one, over the age of 65, begin to experience reoccurring headaches seek medical attention as geriatric migraines can drastically reduce the quality of life in the elderly, as well as represent the potential of other health risks
Tags: children and migraines, chronic migraines, hormonal changes, migraine, migraine headaches, migraine symptoms, migraine trigger
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