One of the reasons why the coronavirus pandemic has been so difficult to fight is that the disease continues to appear in different ways. And while the details of how and why are still unclear, symptoms seem to vary occasionally by population. In recent weeks, more and more young people have tested positive for COVID-19, refuting the theory that it would primarily affect older and at-risk people. They are also showing symptoms that are not as common in those older populations. In Tennessee, for example, doctors report hearing migraine complaints from young coronavirus patients.
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It seems that the drop in the age of the average coronavirus patient is due, in part, to the reopening in many parts of the country, in addition to the initial confusion about who was really in danger of contracting the disease. Urban centers like Nashville have seen a massive increase in young COVID cases. (Tennessee marked its record number of daily new cases when it surpassed 2,000 on July 8.) And with those new cases comes new information about what the most serious cases look like in younger bodies.
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Doctors in Nashville told WKRN News that while fever turned out to be a common symptom among older patients, most younger people did not experience it. However, the outlet also reported that clinics said their “phones [were] ringing with younger COVID-19 patients and debilitating migraines, something they haven’t found a drug for that yet. “
Headaches are a known symptom of coronavirus and are listed on the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) website, along with sore throat, shortness of breath, and other common complaints. But migraines and headaches are not the same. According to the Mayo Clinic, migraines “cause intense shooting pain or a throbbing sensation, usually on one side of the head”, can “be accompanied by nausea, vomiting, and extreme sensitivity to light and sound” and sometimes “They last hours to days.” The migraine pain “can be so intense that it interferes with your daily activities,” the site says.
There is no cure for migraines, but there are medications that can help prevent them or ease symptoms. People who suffer from recurring migraines can also make changes to their sleep schedule, diet, and stress management plans to avoid them. Still, managing migraines can be challenging, especially since they can impede activity.
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Young man having a migraine
It remains to be seen what information doctors and experts can obtain from these cases and whether migraines caused by COVID-19 are functionally different from other types. This symptom adds to the mystery of the coronavirus, as doctors are still not entirely sure what causes migraines. But we do know that COVID-19 can affect the brain, along with other organs, and that various neurological symptoms have been reported. Stress is also known to exacerbate migraines, and some other stress-related conditions are increasing dramatically amid the pandemic.
If you experience any symptoms that concern you, including headache or migraine, see your doctor and seek treatment. That throbbing pain in the head could be an indicator of something even more serious. And for more COVID-19 revelations, here is The Alarming New Way to Transmit Coronavirus, Study Finds.
Gallery: Side effects of COVID-19 that until recently doctors “had no idea” (Best Life)
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