Schools and workplaces are closed. Social distancing requirements are in place. And people in many cities are being urged to stay home to prevent further spread of COVID-19. The global pandemic has greatly disrupted everyone's lives, creating a lot of stress and anxiety.
Patients with chronic neurologic conditions, and migraines in particular, are especially susceptible to the effects of stress on the brain and the body, according to Joseph Sirven, M.D., a Mayo Clinic neurologist.
"At the end of the day, the same organ that is impacted with migraine headaches is the same organ that you feel and think with. And we know that stress increases the environment for headaches to occur," Dr. Sirven says. "So all of the stress, all of this obsessing, all of this worry about what's going on in the world can have this negative effect that it increases the chance for migraines."
Dr. Sirven offers his top five tips to de-stress at home and reduce the chances of migraines occurring:
Limit exposure to news media.
Care for yourself by eating a healthy diet, staying hydrated and getting enough sleep.
Get some exercise, especially outside.
Focus on the positive.
Meditate, stretch or practice deep breathing.
Dr. Sirven also recommends having sufficient medications available, including "rescue" prescriptions and medication to reduce stress levels or aid with sleep.
"This is the time to make sure you have plenty of medication so you don't have to call anyone for any urgent refills," he says.
Given the current landscape, for patients whose migraines have required emergency intervention, Dr. Sirven suggests developing an action plan for when to call 911.
