Odesa Neurologist Debunks 8 Common Headache Myths for Better Health

Everyone has experienced a headache at least once in their life. Pavlo Lebedynets, a neurologist at Odrex Medical Home in Odesa, debunked the myths associated with this condition.

We are launching a series of partnership materials with Odrex, in which we will cover the most interesting medical issues and debunk myths.

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Myth 1: Vegetative dystonia

This is a diagnosis that came to us from the post-Soviet era. It has never existed and does not exist either in the international classification of diseases or in the list of neurological diseases. Therefore, if you are diagnosed with this diagnosis, it has nothing to do with headaches. In addition, if you have been diagnosed with such a diagnosis, it is better to visit a neurologist to have him/her look again and make a real diagnosis, not the one that does not exist.

Myth 2: Osteochondrosis

Osteochondrosis is a normal process of spinal degeneration that begins in every person from four to five years old, and then it just continues. This is an X-ray diagnosis, it has no clinical manifestations, and when you are diagnosed with osteochondrosis of the cervical or lumbar spine, you should not immediately think that this is a serious disease. These are normal changes, and if they do not manifest themselves in any way, then you do not need to see a doctor. If you feel a headache, it is not from osteochondrosis. And you should still ask a specialist what it is from.

Myth 3. Disks can be fused

Discs cannot be exercised - these are also changes in the spine. You should not touch them, as you can greatly harm your health. Headaches are not related to this, so if someone offers you to set the disc, do not do it.

Myth 4. Depression and headaches

Many people think that depression can't cause headaches, but in fact it's quite the opposite. Depression can be a condition that causes a headache, a condition that, unfortunately, is becoming more common in Ukraine every day. In this case, you should definitely see a doctor.

Pavlo Lebedynets. Photo: Intent/Natalia Dovbysh

Myth 5. Headache is caused by blood clots in the blood vessels

Blood clots in blood vessels are already an ischemic stroke. This is an emergency condition that requires immediate hospitalization. Blood clots in the blood vessels cannot cause a constant headache, they cause an ischemic stroke. To avoid blood clots, you need to take primary or secondary stroke prevention medications. Headache itself cannot be caused by blood clots in the vessels.

Myth 6. Every spring you need to take a complex of vitamins to prevent headaches

This is in no way related to headaches, because we get all the vitamins we need from eating and sun exposure, so taking vitamins every spring has no medical indication.

Myth 7. There is no headache during a stroke

Actually, no. Headache can be one of the main signs of a stroke, especially a hemorrhagic stroke, that is, a hemorrhage in the brain. If someone in your environment has a severe headache, you should take them to the hospital as soon as possible to minimize the consequences of the stroke. Early rehabilitation is a chance to reduce the consequences of a stroke.

Myth 8. Light herbal medicines

As a rule, such drugs have not undergone clinical trials and have no evidence-based basis, so their prescription is not advisable. Prescribing medications with proven efficacy will lead to the earliest possible resolution of the headache and return to normal functioning without headache.

Ігор Льов