National Migraine & Headache Awareness Month

Posted on June 13, 2025 by Patrick Hercules

June is National Migraine and Headache Awareness Month. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), headache disorders are some of the most common disorders of the nervous system. The WHO also states that 1 in 7 adults worldwide has migraine and that it can be three times more common in women than men.

A headache is a general term that describes scalp, head, and neck pain. There are many different types of headaches. They may be primary conditions, such as tension headaches, migraine, and cluster headaches, or they may occur due to underlying health conditions.

Tension headaches are the most common type of headache and are more common in women. Causes of Tension Headaches:

Stress

Anxiety

Depression

Alcohol

Caffeine or caffeine withdrawal

Dental problems, such as frequently grinding your teeth or clenching your jaw.

Eyestrain

Keeping your head in one position for a long time.

Not getting enough sleep.

Symptoms of tension headaches typically include dull pressure around the head. You may also feel muscle tightness in your head or neck. The pain is usually mild to moderate and is not accompanied by other symptoms. Tension headaches can last from half an hour to a week.

Ways to treat and prevent tension headaches:

Exercising regularly

Getting enough sleep

Maintaining good posture while seated and taking breaks from sitting.

Managing daily stress

People often experience occasional tension headaches and don’t seek medical attention. If you are experiencing tension headaches for 15 days or more a month, consult your primary care provider.

Migraine is a severe, recurring type of headache that is often debilitating. There are four phases of a migraine attack: prodrome, aura, migraine headache, and post-drome.

Although the exact cause of migraine attacks is unknown, researchers believe genetics is a factor.

There are a few conditions and lifestyle factors that can trigger a migraine attack:

Anxiety

Bipolar disorder

Depression

Epilepsy

Sleep disorders

Caffeine or withdrawal from caffeine

Certain medications or taking medications too often

Migraine attacks are more likely to occur in the morning, making it common to wake up with symptoms. Some people have a predictable pattern of symptoms, such as just before a menstrual period. Other people may have trouble recognizing what triggers their migraines.

There is no cure for migraine, but it can be managed and prevented with over-the-counter triptans and pain relievers.

Cluster headaches are sudden, severe headaches on one side of the head that peak within the first 10 minutes. You may also have a stuffy nose, drooping eyelids, a watery eye, and swelling or redness on the same side as the pain.

The cause of cluster headaches is unknown, but they often run in families and affect more men than women.

Here are some triggers of cluster headaches:

Alcohol

Being exposed to heat

Bright lights

Overexertion

Processed foods

Smoking

Cluster headaches, especially acute ones, are often treated with anti-inflammatories, triptan medications, and DHE injections.

If you commonly experience migraines or headaches, you can visit Flushing Hospital Medical Center’s Ambulatory Care Center. To schedule an appointment, please call (718) 670-5486.

All content of this newsletter is intended for general information purposes only and is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Please consult a medical professional before adopting any of the suggestions on this page. You must never disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking medical treatment based upon any content of this newsletter. PROMPTLY CONSULT YOUR PHYSICIAN OR CALL 911 IF YOU BELIEVE YOU HAVE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY.

Migraine in Children

Posted on April 17, 2024 by Jacob Lobosco

Migraine is a neurological condition that can cause a wide variety of symptoms. Migraines are well-known for their ability to cause a severe, throbbing headache, but they also often cause nausea, light sensitivity, neck stiffness, and difficulty concentrating, among other symptoms.

Migraines affect approximately 12% of people throughout the United States, many of whom are adults; however, approximately 10% of children also experience migraine headaches. Migraines do not necessarily occur the same way for children as they do for adults. To name a few of the differences, adult migraines are more likely to:

Affect one side of the head
Last for up to several days
Lead to irritability or depression
Begin with aura (visual disturbances, speech difficulties, and/or numbness) before the actual headache

On the other hand, when a child experiences migraines, they are more likely to affect both sides of the head. This often lasts for a shorter period of time than an adult migraine. They also rarely begin with aura or lead to behavioral symptoms such as irritability or depression.

One of the primary risk factors for migraines in children is genetics; if one or both parents have experienced migraines, there is a high likelihood (up to 75%) that a child will also experience them. It’s also more likely to affect girls than boys; attacks often start to occur after a girl’s first period. Other contributing factors include:

Stress
Skipping meals
Too much or too little sleep
Changes in weather
Hormonal changes
Concussions or traumatic brain injuries
Certain foods

There is no specific test to diagnose migraines in children. However, a doctor may be able to determine whether this could be the cause of a child’s head pain by getting more information about:

The child’s specific symptoms
How those symptoms have responded to treatment so far
How the child’s symptoms are affecting their ability to function in school or other daily activities
Whether migraine or other conditions that cause head pain run in the child’s family

If you believe your child may be experiencing migraines, you can get them the expert care they need at Flushing Hospital Medical Center’s Pediatric Ambulatory Care Center. To schedule an appointment, please call (718) 670-3007.

June Is National Migraine and Headache Awareness Month

Posted on June 11, 2020 by Joann Ariola

According to the Coalition for Headache and Migraine Patients (CHAMP), June is recognized by the federal government as National Migraine and Headache Awareness Month.

More than 38 million people in the United States experience migraines or some type of tension headache with 2 -3 million of them experiencing chronic migraines.

The exact causes of migraines are unknown. People with migraine or tension headaches may have a tendency to be affected by certain triggers such as fatigue, bright lights, weather changes and hypertension.

Some symptoms of migraine or tension headaches are:

Throbbing pain, numbness, weakness
Sensitivity to light
Sensitivity to sound
Nausea
Diarrhea
Vertigo
Mood changes
Neck pain
Vision changes

Treatment for migraine or tension headaches depends on the how often or how severe the headache is, the level of disability your headache may cause and contributing medical conditions you may have.

Over the counter medications such as anti-nausea or Ibuprofen may help with more minor episodes, but if you are experiencing multiple headaches per month lasting more than 12 hours, over the counter medications aren’t helping and your migraine symptoms include numbness or weakness, it is best to consult your physician.

If you are experiencing painful migraine or tension headaches, Flushing Hospital Medical Center has reopened many of its healthcare services. To learn about the safety measures the hospital has taken to protect your health, please visit https://flushinghospital.org/for-our-patients/

If you would like to schedule an appointment please call 718-670-5486.

To learn more about migraines and tension headaches visit – https://migraine.com/migraine-statistics/

Are There Dangers Associated With Excessive Gum Chewing?

Posted on March 16, 2018 by Michael Hinck

Everyone chews gum! Last year alone, 1.74 trillion sticks of chewing gum were made and it is estimated that the average American chews nearly 300 pieces of gum every year.

There are many benefits for those who chew gum. It freshens up our breath and helps remove food particles that get stuck between our teeth. It helps reduce stress for some and helps fight off hunger cravings for others. Chewing gum also stimulates saliva production, which helps fight off nasty plaque and certain gums containing the sweetener xylitol have actually been reported to fight cavities. With all these benefits associated with chewing gum, is there any reason not to do it?

Actually, there can be. When we chew gum, we exercise our jaw muscles – and similar to any other muscle group in the body that gets overworked, constant and aggressive gum chewing can tire these muscles and cause painful spasms in our jaw, neck and head, which can lead to the development of a condition called temporomandibular dysfunction (or TMD).

TMD occurs when the temporomandibular joints, which are located on either side of our head, become misaligned due to physical stress or degeneration of cartilage in the jaw, which act as shock absorbers for us when we chew. Chewing gum is one of the most common ways to cause this type of damage.

TMD affects over ten million Americans. Those who develop TMD experience many painful symptoms such as discomfort while chewing, difficulty opening and closing their jaw, and popping or clicking sounds when they open their mouths. Earaches and headaches are also typically associated with the disorder.

In addition to contributing to the development of TMD, chronic gum chewing can tighten facial muscles, leading to long lasting headaches. In fact, a recent study concluded that gum chewing was linked to chronic migraines in young children and teens.

So, what do you do? Most dentists agree that moderate gum chewing isn’t a problem, but they do recommend taking a break from the habit if you are experiencing head, neck or jaw pain and allow your muscles to relax. Other ways to relieve pain include taking anti-inflammatory medications, applying a warm compress to the area in pain, and switching to a diet of softer foods. If pain persists, contact your dentist immediately.

If you are experiencing jaw pain that may be caused by TMD, see your dentist. If you do not have one, you can call Flushing Hospital’s Dental Center at 718-670-5521.