Special Issues
Certain issues of migraine management differ between the genders. While there is overlap in treatment, identifying the optimal treatment has different requirements for men and women. It would benefit men to be aware of these requirements so that a fast and accurate diagnosis can be made.
While certain foods can be migraine triggers for men and women equally, men may be more likely to indulge in some triggering foods than women. Red wine, other forms of alcohol, and cigarette smoke are known triggers for migraine. Statistically speaking, college-age men drink more than twice as much alcohol as college-age women. Among older adults, males consume about 40 percent more alcohol than women. In this respect, male migraineurs would do well to moderate their alcohol consumption when it is determined to be a triggering factor for migraine.
Once migraine triggers are identified, men need to be willing to make lifestyle changes. Locating the triggers is not enough. Men with migraines must work to actively eliminate triggers from their daily routines.
If smoking is found to be a migraine trigger, men need to be willing to remove themselves from smoky environments and, if necessary, from people who bring smoke into their lives. Men are also more likely to be smokers themselves — a 2004 study by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) found a median smoking rate of 23.2 percent across forty-nine states for men, as compared to a 19.2 percent median smoking rate for women. But while the prevalence of smoking is greater in men, women appear to have a more difficult time kicking the habit. A 2001 review of over 100 smoking cessation research studies published in
One common trap that male migraineurs tend to fall into is the idea that they can treat themselves. “I know I have a migraine and I know how to treat it” is a common attitude among male migraine sufferers. Some men tend to refrain from making and keeping doctor's appointments for anything that is not broken or bleeding, but in the case of migraine headache, avoidance will not lead to absolution. For starters, most abortive and preventative migraine medications are prescription-only, so by avoiding a trip to the doctor, men are denying themselves some of medical science's strongest treatment options.
Furthermore, knowledge of migraine triggers and treatments is constantly changing. What might have worked for a migraineur when the migraines first started occurring twenty years ago may no longer be the best treatment option. In addition, it is always possible for people to build up a tolerance to some of the medications used in the treatment and prevention of migraines. When drug tolerance occurs, the medications taken daily will become less and less effective, meaning that new methods of treatment become critical.
While men are typically willing to swallow a pill or use a nasal spray, many are wary of such “touchy-feely” treatments as biofeedback and craniosacral therapy. They often involve a relinquishment of boundaries and can leave the recipient feeling somewhat emotionally exposed. The more that men can let themselves accept nontraditional therapies, the more options become available in the treatment and prevention of migraine.
An important realization for men with migraines is the apparent duality of their migraine and treatment. Many migraine triggers can actually double as remedies, depending on the extent, duress, and condition. Women tend to have an easier time accepting this, and they are more willing to explore treatment options.
Exercise can trigger migraine under several cases: intense, sudden exercise that begins with no warm-up period, exercise with low blood sugar, or exercising while dehydrated can all be contributing factors to a migraine. Studies show that women tend to be willing to start a slow, moderate exercise plan and follow the rules of remaining hydrated. Men, on the other hand, have a tendency to jump into exercise at full velocity, even if they had not exercised in years, thus increasing their risk factors for triggering a migraine.
If a headache results, men tend to cease their workouts completely. Women tend to evaluate the situation, make adjustments, and try again. In this particular case, men can learn from the example women set:research, modify, and repeat. Never be afraid to fail in your attempt to find a working treatment plan for migraines. The more you experiment, the more likely you are to find a treatment plan that works well.
Exercise is an important example of an activity that can both trigger and relieve migraines. Regular, moderate exercise is often seen to reduce the frequency and severity of migraines because it stimulates the release of endorphins, natural painkillers produced by the body in times of pain and exertion.
In addition to the perceived stigma of suffering from a chronic disease like migraine, men are often susceptible to depression resulting from their diagnosis. Many men tend to feel ashamed or embarrassed by any perceived weakness. In many male cultures, illness is equated with weakness. Men who see themselves as weak can, over time, become depressed and reluctant to seek help for their condition. Adding to this depression is the fact that, without treatment, migraines can become debilitating to the point where the migraineur might miss school, work, social functions, and major life events, thus sowing the seeds for further depression.
Depression is treatable through behavioral therapy, medication, lifestyle changes, and other therapeutic measures. Depression related to migraine pain may be alleviated by seeking appropriate treatment promptly. If men are able to step outside of their perceived guilt or shame to speak to a medical professional about their condition, they are already well on the way to living a happier and more fulfilling life.
