An African American businesswoman with a face mask on a sore head while sitting in a cafe.
getty
For many people, Covid-19 pandemic is a headache. Literally.
Patients have caused more cases of headaches in 2020 and into 2021. Covid-19 is a symptom of headache. However, other factors contribute to America’s uptick in headaches and migraines: stress and anxiety, environmental triggers, and eye strain from working at a computer all day.
What are headaches?
Headache differs from episodic headaches in several main ways. First, a person with a chronic headache will experience headaches or migraine symptoms every other day (or for at least fifteen days in a normal month). If you are seeking a formal diagnosis, your doctor will ask you how long you have experienced this discomfort. Symptoms of persistent headache last longer than three months.
When near-daily headache pain becomes a part of your routine, it can take a toll on your life. And amid the general social and economic unrest during Covid-19, many patients with headaches feel depressed. A number of environmental and health factors may have triggered headaches through this pandemic. First, fatigue and headaches – such as those caused by Covid-19 – are linked to headache pain.
COVID-19 and Promotion
In a 2020 study by the Journal of Headache and Pain, thousands of participants reported experiencing new or worsening headaches at the time of the pandemic. Among the participants who did not contract Covid-19, 43% said that even if they had a headache before the pandemic, the headache during the pandemic was worse or if there were different times, more their length. 12% said Covid-19 had a new headache. Participants who tested positive for the virus exhibited even more headaches. 44% of advanced patients reported previous headache or worsening of pandemics, and 33% had new headache symptoms.
News outlets have reported that some Covid-19 patients are struggling with their headaches for months after they were first diagnosed with the virus.
Mental Health and Promotion
The above numbers may be scarce, but they are not so clear. Although headache is the most common neurological symptom of Covid-19, many patients without the virus have also experienced a more frequent or severe headache through 2020.
One possible cause of headaches may be the corresponding increase in anxiety and stress. The Center for Disease Control explains, “Many of us have challenges that can be stressful, stressful and cause strong emotions in adults and children. Public health actions, such as social distance, are needed to reduce the spread of COVID-19, but they can make us feel lonely and isolated and can increase stress and anxiety. ”
These emotional pressures can cause physical symptoms such as high blood pressure and headaches.
Eye strain and headaches
Coupled with the mental health crisis that can contribute to your headaches, isolated work can lead to increased eye strain and headaches. During the pandemic, many people spend more time on their phones and computers than ever before.
With meaningful social gatherings, holiday and remote worship services, Zoom classrooms, and remote work, many people spend most of their waking hours looking at a screen. This technology can promote much needed community awareness through quarantine. However, this social connection comes with a cost.
Blue light from your electronic devices can disturb your sleep patterns, blur your temporary vision, and make your eyes dry or itchy. Optometrists refer to blue light overexpression as Computer Vision Syndrome. Insomnia and eye pressure can both make or worsen a headache.
Who is at risk for headaches?
People who spend a lot of time on their computers, such as students or remote workers, may experience increased eye strain and insomnia. Patients who have tested positive for Covid-19 often experience headache pain as a result of their illness. In addition, people who deal with high levels of stress or anxiety are more likely to develop headaches. In another study in the Journal of Headache and Pain from 2017, researchers asked subjects to describe their mental health, headache pain, and other physical symptoms. Participants with anxiety and depression experienced more migraines and headaches than did their neurotypical peers.
How to deal with it
Even as the pandemic subsides, your headache does not have to hold around. If you are dealing with headaches, you can try several strategies to alleviate your pain. Eating and sleeping properly can help you maintain a normal sleep schedule and a healthy blood sugar level, which can both help prevent headaches from fatigue or hunger. Getting regular rest away from your computer and using light blue glasses can protect you from eye strain. While some stressors may feel unavoidable during Covid-19, talking to a physician and creating a strong support network can alleviate some of your anxiety.
Meanwhile, medical researchers are continuing to study the role of Covid-19 in headaches.