Watch CBS News

For Migraine Sufferers The Holidays Can Be One Big Headache

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- The holidays are shifting into high gear, and shopping, decorating, and parties can be a fun time.

But not for everyone -- for some people, this is a painful time of year because it's filled with holiday headaches.

As CBS2's Dr. Max Gomez explained, that's especially true for migraine sufferers.

"Stress is a big trigger, so anything stressful, holidays, traveling, preparing for family coming over, is everything ready, is the food gonna be ready," Jay Fallik said.

Fallik is describing some of the things that trigger the migraines he's suffered since a serious car accident 7 years ago.

"It felt like my brain was hitting my skull. Constant pain, nonstop, just unbearable," he said.

In addition to holiday stress you can add in extra alcohol this time of year. Headache expert Dr. Mark Green of the Mt. Sinai Hospital said other migraine triggers are the changes in routine during the holidays.

"Our sleep-wake cycle is different, our meal times are different, our caffeine administration and the timing of that is different. All those can be very powerful triggers for a headache," Dr. Green said.

As Fallik suggested, spending time with family can be stressful, and so is the opposite.

"For people who are not so lucky, and don't have so many family and friends, it often hits them over the head, and it can be very lonely and depressing," Dr. Green said.

Ironically, while stress is a trigger, so is the let down after the stress is over.

"Every movie talks about someone who is stressed and gets a terrible headache, but often when the stress is over and we relax that's a more powerful trigger," Dr. Green said.

It's not easy to control things, schedules, and stress over the holidays so doctors suggest you keep headache medicine handy and take it at the first sign of a migraine before it really gets going and becomes tougher to treat.

Women suffering from migraines outnumber men by about three to one.

 

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.