MEN AND MIGRAINES

No one wants a migraine headache and if you have ever experienced one, you know how debilitating it can be. Although three times as many women experience migraines than men, that number would likely change if all the men who experience migraine headaches were diagnosed. As it stands now, 16% of women are diagnosed with migraine compared to the 5% of men. Studies show that about half of those who have migraine headaches do not get a formal diagnosis. Migraine is seen as just another headache but with more severe symptoms. Many men do not seek advice or medical help.

MEN AND HEALTH
When it comes to health, men are less likely to seek out medical advice or attention than women. Men have the mindset that they are the provider, they need to be in control, and they just grin and bear when it comes to illness. Illness is sometimes perceived as weakness, having a negative impact on their masculine image. Pretending that the illness does not exist will not make it go away. The sooner the illness is acted on, the better and faster the treatment and recovery.

MORE THAN A HEADACHE
Migraine headaches affect millions of people worldwide and are the leading cause for missed work hours and doctor’s visits. The World Health Organization has labeled it one of the 20 most disabling lifetime conditions. Despite its prevalence, it remains an invisible condition as many of its sufferers remain undiagnosed and often suffer in silence. Many people do not understand the effects of migraine on others. Of those that suffer with this condition, it is estimated that 10-20% are unable to work. In fact, those with migraine are considered to have a lower quality of life than those with asthma.

MIGRAINE AND CHILDREN
Children have shorter attacks than adults and tend to have more of the nausea and abdominal pain than actual head pain. Boys tend to experience headaches earlier and while they are going through their growing spurt. During this time, it is important to be sure that growing boys receive good, healthy meals as this will help prevent migraines from occurring.

TYPES OF MIGRAINES THAT AFFECT MEN
Some headaches affect men more than women. Here are two of them.
Cluster Headache – Six times as many men tend to suffer from cluster headaches than women. They tend to get them in their 20s or older and the men who get them are most often smokers. Cluster headaches usually occur in 4-12 week periods called “bouts”, occur once a year or every two years, and can occur at the same time of year. Each cluster headache begins suddenly and lasts from 15 minutes to 3 hours if untreated. The attack occurs at a similar time of day and can occur every other day or several times a day. Sufferers are pain free between attacks. During the attack there is a severe pain on one side of the head along with one or more of the following symptoms – a blocked or running nose, a droopy eyelid, watering or redness of one eye, a flushed or sweaty face, and restless feeling.

Coital headache – This is a headache that occurs during sex, either at the start of sexual activity or at orgasm. This type of headache affects four times as many men than women. Men who experience migraine or high blood pressure are more susceptible to this headache. Though you might be embarrassed to see your doctor when you have this headache for the first time, it is important that you do in order to rule out other possible more serious causes.

Men experience migraine headaches. They tend not to seek medical attention like women do but they need to understand that if their headaches are causing them tremendous pain, other symptoms, and possibly loss of work hours, consulting a doctor would bring relief, control, and better economical results for them and their families. Help is just a phone call away.

Tags: aura, headache, migraien headache, migraine, migraine phases, migraine treatment, postdrome, prodrome