Though migraine headaches are most common in women, men do experience migraine headaches. Men are not as much of likely as women to take their migraine headache pain seriously and instead of getting proper treatment they just hope to overcome their pain after a while.
While men are not affected by hormonal imbalances like women, but the symptoms are common for men and women. Men are less likely to seek medical precautions and proper diagnosis for migraines. 42% of middle-aged men with a migraine are more likely to suffer a heart attack than the non-migraine men. This is disastrous that men having migraines increases the risk of heart attack and by controlling the migraines can prevent this risk is yet to be known. However, being under the observation of a specialist helps to monitor the risk factor and necessary actions can be taken.
There is one type of a migraine which is called ophthalmic migraine that occurs disproportionately in young men and this migraine variant is related to what is called retinal or an ocular migraine.
What causes migraines in men?
The three main causes of migraines in men are
1.Structural and physical activity
2.Vascular
3.Upper cervical
Structural and physical
Men often put their body through hell and back. It isn’t simply a question of whether they are performing physical work, however, men also like to play physical games and do a ton of different things that can cause head and neck injuries. These injuries, thus, might be responsible for the migraines.
Vascular
Another reason for migraines in men is a vascular issue. Men due to age also experience increased stress, neck stiffness which can affect the amount of blood reaching the brain. This might bring about migraines. This also relates to why beta blockers (which are prescribed for high blood pressure) are now and then recommended to help migraine sufferers. But, these medications do have some side effects
Upper cervical
The other cause for migraines in men is upper cervical chiropractic. When accidents and injuries rip loose the connective tissue which holds the spine in place it causes the spine to breakdown and lock into a stressed position. This will often affect the upper neck severely leading to postural changes, neurological dysfunction, and a varied different symptom, which includes migraine headaches also.
Neurological conditions like migraines can be the result of such misalignment. Always consult an upper cervical chiropractic specialist to have a complete upper neck assessment in order to decide that if your migraines are from this important part.
Migraine Triggers and Symptoms in men
About 35 percent of men are likely to report physical energy such as exercise, as a migraine trigger. Exercise can be a trigger for some migraine sufferers and for other migraine sufferers it can be a helpful method to relieve migraine pain. Though, the migraines that occur during physical exercise can be symbolic to other neurological issues such as irregular blood flow to the brain.
Alcohol is another common trigger which causes a migraine in men. Drinking alcohol can cause dehydration which often prompts migraines to occur.
Another migraine trigger is light and men are likely to be more sensitive to light especially the flickering lights which triggers a migraine.
Depression is one symptom reported in men with a migraine and it has been recognised that there is a link between a migraine and depression. Men with migraines often suffer from depression and tend to have a lower quality of life due to their condition. Coping with migraines may be harder for men as they tend to assume the role of an earner, difficulties in a job, maintaining an active family life and social life and the effects of suffering from such a disabling condition can lead them to feel helpless and depressed.
However, getting a proper diagnosis for migraines is necessary. Diagnosis is the basis for a person to understand what treatment will be relevant to get migraines under control. Neurologists and specialists suggest that keeping a migraine diary can be helpful to a person to track the migraine events which trigger a migraine and eliminate those factors from their life.
The World Health Organization has considered migraine as one of the top twenty most disabling ailments in the world. Drinking less alcohol, doing meditation, eating healthy foods, changes in lifestyle can be helpful to reduce the occurrence of migraines.