Headaches – familydoctor.org

Headaches – Illnesses & conditions

Most headaches are not serious. In many cases, you can treat your headaches at home.

Complete our self-help guide to check your symptoms and find out what to do next.

When to get professional advice

Your local pharmacy can provide:

• advice about headaches
• treatments to help relieve headaches

Tension headaches

Tension headaches are the most common type of headache. They’re what we think of as normal, ‘everyday’ headaches.  They feel like a constant ache that affects both sides of the head, as though a tight band is stretched around it.

Normally, tension headaches are not severe enough to prevent you doing everyday activities. They usually last for 30 minutes to several hours, but can last for several days.

What causes tension headaches?

The exact cause is unclear, but tension headaches have been linked to things such as:

How to treat tension headaches

You can usually treat tension headaches with painkillers such as paracetamol and ibuprofen. Lifestyle changes may also help, for example:

Migraines

Migraines are less common than tension headaches. They’re usually felt as a severe, throbbing pain at the front or side of the head. Some people also have other symptoms, such as:

• nausea
• vomiting
• increased sensitivity to light or sound

Migraines can stop you carrying out your normal daily activities. They usually last at least a couple of hours. Some people find they need to stay in bed for days at a time.

How to treat migraines

Most people can treat their migraines with over-the-counter medication from the pharmacist.

If your migraines are severe, you may need to be prescribed stronger medication by your GP. This may be able to relieve and prevent your migraines.

Read further information about migraines

Cluster headaches

Cluster headaches are a rare type of headache. They occur in clusters for a month or two at a time around the same time of year.

Cluster headaches are excruciatingly painful. They cause intense pain around one eye, and often occur with other symptoms, such as a:

• watering or red eye
• blocked or runny nose

Pharmacy medications don’t usually ease the symptoms of a cluster headache. Your GP can prescribe specific treatments to ease the pain and help prevent further attacks.

Medication and painkiller headaches

Some headaches are a side effect of taking a particular medication. Frequent headaches can also be caused by taking too many painkillers. This is known as a painkiller or medication-overuse headache.

A medication-overuse headache will usually get better within a few weeks once you stop taking the painkillers that are causing it. But, pain may get worse for a few days before it starts to improve.

Hormone headaches

Headaches in women are often caused by hormones, and many women notice a link with their periods. The combined contraceptive pill, the menopause and pregnancy are also potential triggers.

You may be able to help reduce headaches associated with your menstrual cycle by:

Other causes of headaches

Headaches can also have a number of other causes, including:

• drinking too much alcohol
• a head injury or concussion
• a cold or flu
• temporomandibular disorders – problems affecting the ‘chewing’ muscles and the joints between the lower jaw and the base of the skull
• sinusitis – inflammation of the lining of the sinuses
• carbon monoxide poisoning
• sleep apnoea – a condition where the walls of the throat relax and narrow during sleep, interrupting normal breathing

Headaches in pregnancy | Tommy’s

Maternity care is still essential during the coronavirus pandemic and services are still running. If you have any concerns about your pregnancy call your GP, midwife, nearest early pregnancy unit or maternity unit.

How can I treat a headache in pregnancy?

If you have a mild headache, it’s safe to take paracetamol. Make sure you follow the instructions on the packet for how much you can take.

There are some painkillers you should not take while you’re pregnant. These include tablets or capsules that:

• contain added caffeine (sometimes sold with ‘extra’ on the label)
• contain codeine
• are anti-inflammatory, like ibuprofen or aspirin.

Some women may be advised to take a low dose of aspirin as a treatment if they have had miscarriages before or they are at risk of pre-eclampsia. This will be prescribed by a doctor. Aspirin should not be taken as treatment for a headache.

Try to take the lowest dose of paracetamol that works and for the shortest amount of time. Your midwife, GP or pharmacist can give you more advice if the pain is ongoing and doesn’t go away with paracetamol.

Find out more about drugs and medicines in pregnancy.

What can I do to prevent headaches in pregnancy?

 There are some things you can do to prevent headaches. Try to:

When should I call a doctor or midwife about a headache in pregnancy?

Call your midwife, doctor or hospital maternity unit if you have a very bad headache or a headache that won’t go away. This could be a symptom of pregnancy induced hypertension.  This is a type of high blood pressure that develops after 20 weeks and goes away within 6 weeks of the baby’s birth. It’s also known as gestational high blood pressure or gestational hypertension.

Call your midwife, doctor or hospital straight away if you have a headache and vision problems and sudden swelling on your hands, feet, face or stomach. This could be a sign of pre-eclampsia, a pregnancy condition that can be dangerous for you and the baby if it is not monitored and treated. 

Call your midwife, doctor or hospital maternity unit if you have a headache and any of the following symptoms:

• discomfort in the lowest part of your stomach (pelvis)
• back pain
• loin pain (your sides between the lower ribs and pelvis, and the lower part of the back)
• needing to wee a lot or an uncontrollable need to wee
• cloudy, foul-smelling (fishy) or bloody wee
• a raised temperature  (over 37. 5°C)
• feeling sick (nausea) and vomiting.

This could be a sign of a urinary tract infection. UTIs cab be treated with antibiotics that are safe to use in pregnancy.

Migraines in pregnancy

Migraines are a common type of headache. Many people who have migraines may have:

• severe pain, which feels like a throbbing, pounding or pulsating pain
• nausea (feeling sick)
• pain brought on by bright lights
• an ‘aura’, such as flashing lights before the migraine starts.

 Talk to your doctor or midwife if you’ve had migraines before and if you are taking or have taken any medication for them. This is because some migraine medications can contain codeine, aspirin or ibuprofen, which are not recommended in pregnancy unless prescribed by a doctor and the benefits outweigh the risks.

Don’t wait until you have an attack. Your doctor should be able to give you advice on how you can manage your symptoms while you’re pregnant and if you choose to breastfeed.
 

Will a migraine hurt my baby?

Women with migraines are at slightly higher risk of developing high blood pressure and pre-eclampsia. This risk is very small and most women with migraines will not have high blood pressure.

If you have any worries at any time, talk to your midwife.

What do I do if I have a migraine in pregnancy?

If you’ve never had a migraine call your midwife, doctor or hospital maternity unit. Serious conditions like pre-eclampsia can be like a migraine, so although it’s unlikely anything is wrong, your healthcare team may want to see you.

If you have always had migraines, you may find that they get better during your pregnancy. But pregnancy can also change the nature of migraines, so if you have a migraine that feels different to what you’ve had before, call your midwife, doctor or hospital maternity unit. 

What can I do to prevent migraines?

One of the best ways to prevent migraines is to recognize what triggers an attack and trying to avoid them. For example, stress, eating certain foods or lack of sleep may bring on an attack.

Avoiding your triggers can be difficult when you’re pregnant. For example, if you have morning sickness you may not feel like eating or drinking much. This can cause low blood sugar or dehydration, so it’s important to try and find ways to cope.

Getting enough sleep may also be difficult during pregnancy. Try our tips for a better night’s sleep.

You should also try to

Acupuncture

You could also try acupuncture, which has been recommended by NICE as helpful for people with migraines. Acupuncture is a type of complementary therapy that involves a practitioner inserting thin needles at particular points on your body. It’s used to control and relieve pain.  Research has shown that it can also help with back pain  for pregnant women.

Acupuncture is generally safe to have when you’re pregnant but talk to your midwife or GP before you book a session. If you do want to try it, make sure your acupuncturist is fully qualified and that they use disposable needles at every treatment session. Tell your practitioner that you’re pregnant because certain acupuncture points can’t be used safely in pregnancy. 

More information and support

Migraine Action

Migraine Trust

Kids Health Information : Headaches

A headache is a symptom of pain in the area of the head or neck. Headaches are common in children and adolescents.

Headaches can be caused by many things, including colds, stress, dehydration, lack of sleep or eye problems (e.g. straining to read). Most headaches in children are not due to a serious underlying problem, but they can be upsetting for the child and have an impact on schooling, sport and play
activities.

If your child’s headaches are severe and persistent, and cause them to miss school or activities more often than once a month, they should be checked by their GP.

Signs and symptoms of different headaches

Children are affected by many different types of headaches, and they can range in severity from a mild ache to severe pain.

Headaches can be thought of as primary headaches and secondary headaches.

Some primary headaches and their symptoms are:

• Tension headache – feels like a tight band around the head. A tension headache is usually a dull, steady ache felt on both sides of the head, but may be felt at the front and back of the head.
  
• Migraine headaches – often described as a throbbing feeling, which may be on one side of the head. Migraines are sometimes accompanied by symptoms of dizziness, nausea, vomiting and visual disturbances. See our fact sheet
  Migraine headaches.

Other primary headache disorders are less common, and can be associated with sudden, one sided, facial pain, and nasal congestion or lots of tears (tears without actually crying).

Secondary headaches are due to an identifiable underlying cause, commonly a mild illness (e.g. a viral infection) or dehydration.

What causes headaches?

Children and adolescents who experience primary headaches often have other family members who get headaches. Common triggers for headaches in children with migraine or tension headaches are not getting enough sleep or being stressed. In rare cases, exercise can also trigger these types
of headaches.

Common causes of secondary headaches are viral infections such as colds, sinusitis, or ear infections. Rare causes of secondary headaches are tumours or intracranial (inside the skull) bleeding.

Care at home

Treating an occasional headache can be as simple as having something to eat and drink, and a lie down to rest and relax. A cool, wet cloth placed on the forehead may help relieve the headache, and massaging or stretching the head and neck muscles if they are tight or tender may also help.

If these strategies don’t work, it may help to give your child some non-prescription pain medicine, such as paracetamol or ibuprofen (see our fact sheet
Pain relief for children). Follow the instructions on the packet and do not use pain medication for more than two days in a week without advice from your GP. Overuse of pain medication can cause additional problems.

To try to prevent headaches, make sure your child is getting enough sleep and rest, regular exercise and balanced nutrition. Balanced nutrition means your child should eat plenty of vegetables and fruit, lean meats and dairy products, and limit processed foods that are high in fats and
sugars.

Keeping a headache diary is a good way to try to identify what triggers (causes) your child’s headaches. The diary will also be helpful for your child’s doctor in determining the best way to manage and treat your child’s headaches in the future. If you find there are any specific triggers
that seem to cause your child’s headaches, you can work to avoid them.

The headache diary should include:

• when the headache started and what seemed to trigger it
  
• how long it lasted
  
• which part of the head hurt
  
• how bad it was on a scale of 1 (mild) to 10 (severe)
  
• if anything helped to soothe the headache
  
• the time of going to bed the night before
  
• if there were any other symptoms with the headache
  
• if school was missed because of the headache.

When to see a doctor

Some headaches can be serious, so if you are concerned, see your GP. Your child should see the GP if:

• the headaches are getting worse
  
• they are having a headache more than once a week
  
• the headache wakes your child from sleep or the headache is worse in the morning
  
• the headache is associated with vision changes, vomiting or high fevers
  
• the headaches begin to disrupt your child’s school, home or social life
  
• you identify that stress is causing your child’s headaches but cannot manage it without further help. 
  

For severe, recurrent headaches, your child may be prescribed medication that is stronger than over-the-counter paracetamol or ibuprofen. If the headaches happen a lot, the doctor may suggest a daily prophylactic (preventative) medicine to help prevent the
headaches. In cases where psychological stress is identified as a trigger for headaches, a referral to a child psychologist may be helpful.

Key points to remember

• Headaches are common in children and generally not serious.
  
• They can have an impact on schooling, sport and play activities.
  
• Keeping a headache diary can help identify the things that trigger your child’s headaches, so you can try to avoid them.
  
• Regular healthy meals, and enough sleep and exercise are important to help prevent headaches.
  
• Some headaches can be serious, so see your GP if you are concerned.

For more information

Common questions our doctors are asked

Will my child outgrow his headaches?

This depends on the type of headache your child suffers. Learning what triggers cause your child’s headaches allows you to avoid them in the future, and this usually leads to fewer headaches as your child gets older.

My daughter has just started getting her period. Could her
headaches be hormonal?

Some adolescent girls have migraine headaches around the time of their monthly period. When this occurs, a preventative medicine (prophylaxis) can be used as the headaches have a predictable pattern.

Does my child need a scan?

A scan is necessary for headaches that get worse over a short period of time and do not go away, and are associated with other worrying symptoms, such as drowsiness, severe vomiting or problems with balance or speech. MRI is the preferred scan as there is no radiation risk; however, in
children a general anaesthetic is often needed. A CT scan or head X-ray is not recommended due to the radiation. Typical migraines or tension headaches, where the child is well between the episodes, do not need imaging.   

Does too much screen time lead to more headaches?

Some children and adolescents may get headaches from looking at the bright screens of electronic devices, and some children remain in a poor posture for an extended time while they are on their device, which can lead to headaches. Encourage them to take regular breaks from the screen and turn the brightness
down. Screen time should be limited.  

Developed by The Royal Children’s Hospital Neurology department. We acknowledge the input of RCH consumers and carers.

Reviewed May 2018.

Kids Health Info is supported by The Royal Children’s Hospital Foundation. To donate, visit

www.rchfoundation.org.au.

Cluster Headaches | Johns Hopkins Medicine

What is a cluster headache?

Cluster headaches are rare when compared to other types of headaches. The pain they produce is severe and tends to recur in the same way each time. They occur in groups, or clusters, and each attack lasts about 1 to 3 hours on average. The frequency of occurrence may range from every other day to multiple times a day. Cluster periods are followed by remissions that may last months or years.

Males are affected by cluster headaches more than females and they typically start around age 30.

What causes cluster headaches?

Researchers do not know exactly what causes cluster headaches. They seem to be related to the sudden release of histamine or serotonin in the body.

The following may trigger cluster headaches:

• Alcohol use or smoking cigarettes
• Change to a high altitude
• Bright light
• Exercise or exertion
• Heat, either weather or a bath
• Foods that contain nitrates, such as bacon or lunch meat
• Cocaine use

What are the symptoms of cluster headaches?

These are common symptoms of a cluster headache:

• Sudden onset of pain, generally around or behind the eye
• Pain builds to a peak in about 10 to 15 minutes
• Restlessness or agitation
• Red or watering eyes
• Nasal congestion
• Sweating on the forehead
• Eyelid drooping or swelling

The symptoms of a cluster headache may look like other conditions or medical problems. Always see your doctor for a diagnosis.

How are cluster headaches diagnosed?

Cluster headaches are diagnosed based on your history of a pattern of recurrent bouts of near-daily headache attacks lasting for days, weeks, or months.

How are cluster headaches treated?

A two-pronged approach is necessary for treatment of cluster headaches: aborting an attack and preventing future attacks.

To stop or at least subdue an attack in progress, you may be given high-dose oxygen therapy through a face mask for 15 to 20 minutes. Your doctor may also prescribe a nasal spray called sumatriptan to relieve the severe pain of a cluster headache. Sumatriptan is a selective serotonin receptor agonist. This medicine causes blood vessels in the brain to constrict, thereby relieving pain.

The second part of cluster headache treatment is to prevent recurrent attacks by using daily medicine. Several medicines are used to prevent cluster headache attacks:

• Verapamil. A medicine that relaxes blood vessels.
• Prednisone. A steroid that reduces inflammation and swelling.
• Lithium carbonate. A medicine that restores the balance of certain brain chemicals.

What are the complications of cluster headaches?

A true cluster headache is not life threatening and does not cause permanent brain damage. But, they tend to be chronic, recurrent, and can interfere with your lifestyle or work.

Can cluster headaches be prevented?

To prevent a cluster headache, it’s important to identify what triggers your headaches. Try avoiding smoking and alcohol use. Your doctor may be able to prescribe a medicine regimen that will help prevent cluster headaches.

When should I call my healthcare provider?

There are some danger signs that may occur with cluster headaches that warrant immediate medical care. These include:

• Changes in alertness
• Loss of movement or sensation
• Drowsiness
• Nausea or vomiting
• Seizure activity
• Changes in vision

Key points about cluster headaches

• Cluster headaches occur in groups, or clusters, and each attack lasts about 1 to 3 hours on average.
• The frequency of occurrence may range from every other day to multiple times a day.
• Cluster periods are followed by remissions that may last months or years.
• Relative to other types of primary headaches, cluster headaches are rare.
• The pain they produce is severe and they tend to recur in the same way each time
• Identifying headache triggers may help prevent their occurrence.
• A true cluster headache is not life threatening and does not cause permanent brain damage. But, they tend to be chronic, recurrent, and can interfere with your lifestyle or work.

Next steps

Tips to help you get the most from a visit to your healthcare provider:

• Know the reason for your visit and what you want to happen.
• Before your visit, write down questions you want answered.
• Bring someone with you to help you ask questions and remember what your provider tells you.
• At the visit, write down the name of a new diagnosis, and any new medicines, treatments, or tests. Also write down any new instructions your provider gives you.
• Know why a new medicine or treatment is prescribed, and how it will help you. Also know what the side effects are.
• Ask if your condition can be treated in other ways.
• Know why a test or procedure is recommended and what the results could mean.
• Know what to expect if you do not take the medicine or have the test or procedure.
• If you have a follow-up appointment, write down the date, time, and purpose for that visit.
• Know how you can contact your provider if you have questions.

Six distinct ‘types’ of COVID-19 identified

Moreover, the team found that these types differed in the severity of the disease and the need for respiratory support during hospitalisation.

The findings have major implications for clinical management of COVID-19, and could help doctors predict who is most at risk and likely to need hospital care in a second wave of coronavirus infections.

Although continuous cough, fever and loss of smell (anosmia) are usually highlighted as the three key symptoms of COVID-19, data gathered from app users shows that people can experience a wide range of different symptoms including headaches, muscle pains, fatigue, diarrhea, confusion, loss of appetite, shortness of breath and more. The progression and outcomes also vary significantly between people, ranging from mild flu-like symptoms or a simple rash to severe or fatal disease.

To find out whether particular symptoms tend to appear together and how this related to the progression of the disease, the research team used a machine learning algorithm to analyse data from a subset of around 1,600 users in the UK and US with confirmed COVID-19 who had regularly logged their symptoms using the app in March and April.

The analysis revealed six specific groupings of symptoms emerging at characteristic timepoints in the progression of the illness, representing six distinct ‘types’ of COVID-19. The algorithm was then tested by running it on a second independent dataset of 1,000 users in the UK, US and Sweden, who had logged their symptoms during May.

All people reporting symptoms experienced headache and loss of smell, with varying combinations of additional symptoms at various times. Some of these, such as confusion, abdominal pain and shortness of breath, are not widely known as COVID-19 symptoms, yet are hallmarks of the most severe forms of the disease.

The six clusters are as follows:

1. (‘flu-like’ with no fever): Headache, loss of smell, muscle pains, cough, sore throat, chest pain, no fever.
2. (‘flu-like’ with fever): Headache, loss of smell, cough, sore throat, hoarseness, fever, loss of appetite.
3. (gastrointestinal): Headache, loss of smell, loss of appetite, diarrhea, sore throat, chest pain, no cough.
4. (severe level one, fatigue): Headache, loss of smell, cough, fever, hoarseness, chest pain, fatigue.
5. (severe level two, confusion): Headache, loss of smell, loss of appetite, cough, fever, hoarseness, sore throat, chest pain, fatigue, confusion, muscle pain.
6. (severe level three, abdominal and respiratory): Headache, loss of smell, loss of appetite, cough, fever, hoarseness, sore throat, chest pain, fatigue, confusion, muscle pain, shortness of breath, diarrhea, abdominal pain.

Next, the team investigated whether people experiencing particular symptom clusters were more likely to require breathing support in the form of ventilation or additional oxygen.

They discovered that only 1.5% of people with cluster 1, 4.4% of people with cluster 2 and 3.3% of people with cluster 3 COVID-19 required breathing support. These figures were 8.6%, 9.9% and 19.8% for clusters 4,5 and 6 respectively. Furthermore, nearly half of the patients in cluster 6 ended up in hospital, compared with just 16% of those in cluster 1.

Broadly, people with cluster 4,5 or 6 COVID-19 symptoms tended to be older and frailer, and were more likely to be overweight and have pre-existing conditions such as diabetes or lung disease than those with type 1,2 or 3.

The researchers then developed a model combining information about age, sex, BMI and pre-existing conditions together with symptoms gathered over just five days from the onset of the illness.

This was able to predict which cluster a patient falls into and their risk of requiring hospitalisation and breathing support with a higher likelihood of being correct than an existing risk model based purely on age, sex, BMI and pre-existing conditions alone.

Given that most people who require breathing support come to hospital around 13 days after their first symptoms, this extra eight days represents a significant ‘early warning’ as to who is most likely to need more intensive care.

“These findings have important implications for care and monitoring of people who are most vulnerable to severe COVID-19,” said Dr Claire Steves from King’s College London. “If you can predict who these people are at day five, you have time to give them support and early interventions such as monitoring blood oxygen and sugar levels, and ensuring they are properly hydrated – simple care that could be given at home, preventing hospitalisations and saving lives.”

Lead researcher Dr Carole Sudre from King’s College London said: ”Our study illustrates the importance of monitoring symptoms over time to make our predictions about individual risk and outcomes more sophisticated and accurate. This approach is helping us to understand the unfolding story of this disease in each patient so they can get the best care.”

“Being able to gather big datasets through the app and apply machine learning to them is having a profound impact on our understanding of the extent and impact of COVID-19, and human health more widely,” said Sebastien Ourselin, professor of healthcare engineering at King’s College London and senior author of the study.

Professor Tim Spector added: ”Data is our most powerful tool in the fight against COVID-19. We urge everyone to get in the habit of using the app daily to log their health over the coming months, helping us to stay ahead of any local hotspots or a second wave of infections.”

Delta variant Covid symptoms ‘include headaches, sore throat and runny nose’ | Coronavirus

Headaches, a sore throat and a runny nose are the most common symptoms associated with the UK’s most widely established Covid variant, researchers have said.

The data, collected as part of the app-based Zoe Covid symptom study, suggests that the Delta variant first detected in India feels like a “bad cold”, according to Tim Spector, a professor of genetic epidemiology at King’s College London, who is leading the work.

“Covid is … acting differently now, it’s more like a bad cold,” he said. “People might think they’ve just got some sort of seasonal cold, and they still go out to parties … we think this is fuelling a lot of the problem. So, what’s really important to realise is that since the start of May, we’ve been looking at the top symptoms in all the app users, and they’re not the same as they were. So, the number one symptom is headache … followed by sore throat, runny nose and fever.”

According to the NHS, the classic Covid symptoms are fever, cough and loss of smell or taste.

Spector said that with Delta, a cough appears to be the fifth most common symptom, and the loss of smell doesn’t make the top 10.

Data suggests that the Delta variant is at least 40% more transmissible than the Alpha variant first detected in Kent, and appears to double the risk of hospitalisation. It also renders vaccines somewhat less effective, particularly after only one dose.

The rapid, priority-based rollout of vaccines in the UK means that although high numbers of the elderly population are fully vaccinated, younger adults are probably partially vaccinated or unvaccinated for now. According to a Guardian analysis, two-thirds of the population in England are still not protected by vaccines against symptomatic infection from the Delta variant.

“I think the message here is that if you’re young and getting milder symptoms any way, it might just feel like a bad cold or some funny feeling … do stay at home and do get a test,” Spector said.

The app, run by the health science company Zoe – founded by Spector – with scientific analysis provided by King’s College London, has more than 4 million contributors globally.

According to data published on 10 June, cases are higher and increasing faster in the unvaccinated population within the UK. Cases have increased the most in the 20-29 age group, and the 0-19 age group follows closely behind, according to data collected from participants between 23 May and 5 June (this excludes data from rapid tests).

These rising case numbers are probably rooted in the higher rate of transmission and fatigue around social distancing. Data from the Office for National Statistics shows the proportion of adults in Great Britain maintaining social distancing with people outside their household fell to 68% over the period 2-6 June, compared with 74% the week before.

90,000 Migraine: treatment of the disease | Clinic Rassvet

Fast passage

Migraine is one of the most famous and frequent types of headache and, accordingly, a frequent reason for referring to specialists in neurologists and algologists.

It is believed that up to 12-16% of the world’s population suffers from migraines. It is also known that women get sick almost three times more often than men, and if someone in the family has a migraine, then relatives have a higher risk of getting sick.

What is migraine

Migraine is a specific type of headache. Firstly, the very pain of migraine is very strong, unbearable, usually covers half of the head. Secondly, the pain is accompanied by other symptoms – nausea and vomiting, fear of bright light and loud sounds, lacrimation. Thirdly, the development of a headache may be preceded by strange symptoms of numbness or weakness of the limbs, blurred speech, visual impairment, which are commonly called an aura.The aura lasts, as a rule, no more than 1 hour and disappears as the headache increases.

Forms and complications of migraine

There are several of these headaches, as well as two main complications that untreated migraines are fraught with:

1. Migraine without aura
2. Migraine with aura (classical migraine with aura, aura without migraine, basilar aura, hemiplegic migraine, retinal migraine)
3. Chronic migraine
4. Complications of migraine (migraine status, migraine cerebral infarction, migraine-associated seizures)

The exact type of migraine will be determined by the doctor, but it is very important to understand that a headache can be accompanied by a variety of symptoms, and the absence of treatment can lead to severe complications, up to the development of a stroke.

Causes of migraine disease

Why does a migraine develop, why does it hurt so much and only one part of the head?

At one time it was believed that the aura is caused by local vasoconstriction of the head, and the pain itself is caused by the subsequent vasodilation. Also, one of the theories suggests a change in the bioelectric activity of certain parts of the brain. Another theory is that pain is mediated by irritation of the branches of the trigeminal nerve, which is responsible for the sensitivity and pain of the face, part of the head, and the meninges of the brain.Some studies have shown that the balance of neurotransmitters in the nervous system is also important, and when it is disturbed, migraine also occurs.

Obviously, each of the mechanisms described above contributes to what causes such severe pain and so many associated symptoms.

Migraine treatment

Given the complex nature of the disease, the question logically arises, how can it be treated?

If migraine attacks occur rarely and do not greatly affect a person’s performance, it is customary to prescribe drugs only at the moment of pain.The first step is to recommend a common NSAID (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug) such as ibuprofen, aspirin, or paracetamol. If these drugs are not effective enough, triptans, drugs designed specifically to combat migraine attacks, should be taken.

If attacks occur frequently, reduce efficiency, respond poorly to treatment, it is advisable to engage in prevention of migraine attacks. It is carried out not with painkillers, but with drugs that affect the tone of blood vessels, the balance of neurotransmitters, the excitability of neurons – these are beta-blockers (drugs traditionally prescribed for hypertensive patients), antidepressants (mainly amitriptyline), anticonvulsants (drugs used to treat epilepsy).This therapy is prescribed for a long period of time and requires daily medication.

Migraine treatment is a laborious process that requires serious moral and financial resources.

In recent years, many modern techniques have appeared that allow you to control migraines, effectively prevent the development of attacks and minimize the intake of medications. Among these methods are botulinum therapy, vagus stimulation (X pair of cranial nerves), transcranial magnetic stimulation of the brain.

Features of migraine treatment in the Rassvet clinic

In “Dawn” you can get a consultation from a neurologist and correctly determine the type of headache. From a wide range of drugs, he will choose exactly the one that, given the age, concomitant diseases and opportunities, is right for you. The clinic has the opportunity to undergo botulinum therapy on the day of treatment, the most effective method for preventing migraine.

Recommendations of a neurologist at the Rassvet clinic for migraine patients

You don’t have to endure a headache.If you feel that a headache attack is starting to gain momentum, immediately take the drugs that your doctors have prescribed for you to stop the attack.

If the attack still develops, you should stop work, exercise, if possible, retire to a darkened quiet room and try to sleep.

If migraine attacks occur several times a month and reduce your performance, it is worth contacting a neurologist for the selection of preventive therapy.With frequent use of pain relievers, there is a high risk of developing drug-induced headache.

People with frequent headaches should keep a headache diary, in which it is necessary to note the reasons provoking the development of pain, its frequency and intensity, so it will be easier for the doctor to choose the correct treatment.

90,000 Covid-19 – advice to workers and employers

Several weeks have passed and everything has changed – and at the same time, everything has remained the same.

Wherever you work, the law still applies. Although the language of laws and regulations varies around the world, in general employers have a responsibility to protect the health and safety of their workers. This includes providing information, education, training and providing workers with adequate protective equipment and equipment to safely perform their work. In addition, new specific laws or regulations could be enacted to combat the COVID-19 outbreak.Make sure your workplace complies with all applicable legal requirements.

Employees demand that their right to receive detailed information on existing risks and methods of controlling these risks be respected. We insist on the right of employees to participate in the decision-making process regarding control methods, because this is our life with you. This means that the Joint Occupational Health and Safety Committees and union representatives should be actively involved in the design, implementation and monitoring of all measures taken.Finally, we will declare our right to refuse to perform work in hazardous conditions if we have reason to believe that the control measures taken are not effective.

Employers are responsible for providing safe and healthy workplaces. Employees are responsible for adhering strictly to any control measures.

What is the new coronavirus?

The disease, which is now commonly referred to in the world as a new or previously unknown coronavirus infection, officially called COVID-19, is caused by the recently emerging SARS-CoV-2 virus.

The situation is frightening: people are faced with a virus to which no one has acquired immunity. The infection is spreading with lightning speed around the world, measures are being taken to reduce the rate of infection and not overload health systems.

But at the same time, the coronavirus belongs to infectious diseases that humanity has already encountered, and the principles of preventing their spread have long been known.

This is what the World Health Organization’s memo “Preparing your workplace for COVID-19” says about the coronavirus (March 19, 2020):

How does COVID-19 spread?

When a person infected with COVID-19 coughs or exhales, tiny droplets of saliva containing virus particles are scattered.Most of these droplets settle on nearby surfaces and objects, desks and dining tables, telephones. A person can become infected with COVID-19 if, touching such surfaces or objects, then touches the eyes, nose or mouth. If a person is less than 1 meter from someone infected with COVID-19, they can become infected by inhaling droplets of saliva released when the patient coughs or exhales. In other words, COVID-19 spreads in the same way as the flu. Most people infected with COVID-19 experience mild symptoms and recover safely.But in some, the disease progresses to a more serious stage, and treatment in a hospital may be required. The risk of severe consequences of the disease increases with age: people over 40 seem to be more vulnerable than young people. The risk group includes people with weakened immunity and with diseases such as diabetes mellitus, cardiovascular and pulmonary diseases. Their disease can be more severe.

Symptoms of the disease

It is important to know the symptoms of the disease in order to determine if you or your colleagues are at risk of contracting or infecting others.The most prominent symptoms of COVID-19 infection are fever and a previously unseen, prolonged dry cough.
Symptoms most often noted by patients.

In 88% of cases, high temperature

In 68% of cases, dry cough
In 38% of cases, fatigue
In 33% of cases, sputum
In 19% of cases, shortness of breath
In 15% of cases, pain in muscles and joints

Among other symptoms less common are sore throat, headache, chills, nausea or vomiting, runny nose, diarrhea, hemoptysis (coughing up blood or bloody sputum), and conjunctival hyperemia (burning eyes and increased tearing).

The majority of COVID-19 cases without complications recover. However, some patients may develop severe acute respiratory syndrome and / or pneumonia. Such serious cases can sometimes lead to functional organ failure and death. The risk of serious complications increases with age.

What to do if you have symptoms

If you feel symptoms while at home, stay home.

If you feel the first symptoms of coronavirus while at work, inform your employer (you need to know in advance who you should inform in this case) and go home.Stay at least 2 meters away from other people while waiting for transport to take you home.

Call your doctor. Follow the guidelines for self-isolation, including for everyone who lives with you. If you feel worsening, see your doctor immediately.

At the slightest opportunity, employers should arrange for COVID-19 testing for workers free of charge if infection is suspected. It is worth noting that there is a shortage of test systems at the time of this writing, but it is expected that the shortage will soon be eliminated.

What are the workplace responses to COVID-19?

As with any hazard in the workplace, it is the responsibility of the Joint Health and Safety Committees and safety officers to ensure that facilities are adhered to recommended policies, programs and procedures. These policies, programs and procedures must be jointly approved. Decision making should not be left to employers.

Any rules, programs and procedures are effective only if they are followed.Therefore, it is necessary to jointly adopt a protocol for effectively monitoring their implementation.

Hazard Determination

Hazard Determination and Risk Assessment must be carried out jointly – only those directly exposed to the risk have the moral right to assess the risk.

* Initially, the focus was on people returning from travel or people who have come into contact with infected people, as well as any large groups of people who might be potential carriers of the coronavirus.But nowadays, there are numerous cases of local transmission in most regions of the world. Therefore, contact with those who have recently returned from a trip is no longer the only danger.

* The virus can be transmitted before symptoms appear. Therefore, everyone should be aware of the symptoms of coronavirus, both for the sake of maintaining their own health and for the sake of maintaining the health of others. See the detailed list of symptoms above.

Risk Control

The principles of personal and industrial hygiene for COVID-19 are the same as for other biological hazards.The best option is to eliminate or completely isolate the source of the hazard; minimize the risk as much as possible by eliminating the transmission routes of the virus; and finally, provide people with effective personal protective equipment.

Since it is impossible to eliminate or completely isolate the source of the hazard, since anyone in the workplace – be it an employee, contractor, client or visitor – can be a carrier of infection, the risks can be minimized using other strategies.

Special Measures

Personal Hygiene

Hands should be washed frequently and thoroughly with plenty of soap and water, and easily accessible hand sanitizing stations should be installed in strategic locations and workplaces.

Posters explaining how to wash your hands “thoroughly” may be helpful. To eliminate all traces of the virus on your hands, you must wash your hands for at least 20 seconds with plenty of soap or detergent and water.

Avoid touching your face with unwashed hands: eyes, nose or mouth.

It is better to dry your hands with paper towels, as electric hand dryers can widely spread the remaining virus particles with a stream of air.

Observe respiratory hygiene in the workplace – make sure that you and all your colleagues completely cover their nose and mouth with disposable handkerchiefs or napkins when coughing and sneezing, if there are no napkins at hand, you need to bend your arm and cough into the crook of your elbow …

Other information and tutorials may also be helpful.

Occupational hygiene in production and workplaces

Measures to maintain cleanliness: A regime of frequent cleaning and disinfection of surfaces should be established, including but not limited to production equipment, tools, controls, handles, keyboards, touch screens, telephones, office equipment as well as doors, railings and furniture. To remove all traces of the virus, it is necessary to clean the surfaces with alcohol, hydrogen peroxide and chlorine-containing agents in sufficiently high concentrations (at least 62-71% ethanol, 0.5% hydrogen peroxide or 0.1% sodium hypochlorite) for at least 1 minute.Any trace of blood or body fluid must be handled with extreme care. In these cases, it is necessary not only to disinfect the surfaces, but also to protect the cleaning personnel. Cleaning workers should be instructed on how to properly disinfect. Frequent cleaning of work surfaces and equipment, especially before the next work shift, can help reduce the spread of infection.

Employers should provide an adequate supply of cleaning products, wipes, first aid supplies and personal protective equipment.

It is necessary to provide good indicators of the frequency of air exchange (ventilation) at workplaces.

Social distancing: wherever possible, increase the space between workers (two meters or more) and allow work from home, establish flexible hours or shift shifts to reduce the number of workers in close contact with each other.

All unimportant trips and appointments should be canceled, if possible replaced with online events.

Special conditions must be created for workers who are at high risk due to age or existing diseases.

Particular attention should be paid to equipment, furniture, cutlery, crockery and other items in kitchens and dining rooms.

Potentially contaminated waste, including used wipes, must be disposed of safely. If a virus may be present in the waste, seek advice on disposal. In some cases, special protocols must be followed.

Treatment of patients or persons with suspected coronavirus

If a suspicious case has been identified at the workplace, it is necessary to seek medical help and immediately send the person home (or, if the case is serious, to the hospital). A person must be isolated from others while awaiting transportation home. If this is the case, a person with suspected infection should wear a mask because it can reduce the chances of transmitting the virus to others. All objects and surfaces with which a person with suspected coronavirus came into contact must be disinfected.In addition, it is necessary to identify and verify all the people with whom he / she may have contact.

Personal protective equipment

The decision to provide special protective equipment against the COVID-19 virus should be made on the basis of a risk assessment, taking into account the specifics of the workplace and work in question. The general recommendations below may not be the best solution for your specific conditions – if necessary, seek additional advice from a specialist.

Conventional filter paper masks or surgical masks are generally unnecessary if you are outside of healthcare facilities, do not perform specific tasks such as cleaning or handling potentially contaminated materials, and do not come into contact with potentially infected people.Such masks can reduce the risk of infection, but at the same time, they can create a false sense of security. A fogged mask can even serve as a good surface for virus particles to settle and become a source of infection when removed and disposed of, unless the person has taken special precautions and washed their hands and face immediately. Even a well-fitting mask of the right type is not an ideal virus barrier and if prescribed, it is recommended that you complete a complete respiratory protection program to ensure proper preparation, selection of the correct size and correct use of the mask.

However, workers who develop a runny nose or cough in the workplace should wear a surgical mask and remain in it until they can leave the workplace to reduce the risk to others.

Gloves and overalls, unless otherwise required by the workplace, are generally not needed to protect against COVID-19. They should be used in healthcare settings or for certain tasks, such as cleaning or handling potentially contaminated materials, or when interacting with potentially infected people.These protective equipment can help reduce the spread of the virus, but workers need to be trained and trained to, for example, clearly understand the dangers of touching the face while wearing gloves.

Experts agree that good hygiene, especially hand washing, is crucial. Consider whether your workplace follows proper cleaning and disinfection procedures for all work clothing, including coveralls, shoes, gloves, helmets, goggles, respirators, other personal protective equipment, etc.

Providing adequate social protection

Everyone in the workplace should understand that even mild symptoms such as cough and low fever mean that a person must stay at home. This rule should be explained as clearly as possible.

Employees must be guaranteed full wages if they are absent due to illness; otherwise, there is a high risk that some, even if they become ill, will continue to go to work, spreading the virus.

Consideration should be given to aspects such as mental health and emotional stability: in these uncertain times, people will live in fear; and in the case of working from home may experience stress due to social isolation.

Human Resources and Records Management

Employers should have a plan of action in case a colleague in the workplace develops symptoms of illness until they are safely transported home or to a hospital for treatment.

Visitors to businesses and institutions should be asked if they have recently traveled and if they are currently experiencing any symptoms.

Keep all information about contractors, customers, visitors to businesses and institutions, their names, contact details and places they visited, in case of need for follow-up.

Conclusion

COVID-19 poses new challenges for health and safety in the workplace, but one thing remains unchanged – unions are making our work safer!

How is it manifested, how to treat and diagnose?

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Red flags of headache | Articles of the clinic Medservice

One can hate not only Yershalaim, as was the case with the prosecutor’s office of Judea Pontius Pilate, but also the whole world and the universe, when the head explodes from the inside from a headache.Sometimes it is flattering to be in the same company with Caesar, Freud, Chakovsky and Marx, but it is better to turn to professionals for help. It may turn out that a headache is not a harmless ailment that can be easily dealt with with the help of analgin and citramone, but a messenger of irreversible processes in the body.

A neurologist at the Medservice clinic shares some professional secrets with our readers. They can help you stay healthy or get qualified help if you need medical attention.

Some headaches are caused by taking painkillers

– In life we ​​are accustomed to treating our bodies quite carelessly, although a spare one is not expected. My head hurts – I ate it with analginum, washed it down with water and everything will go away by itself. But pain is a signal of some pathology. How safe is it to bring down the pain and do nothing to address the root cause?

– In fact, there are two types of headaches – primary and secondary. The former include tension headaches.These also include migraines, which I would like to talk about especially. Secondary causes are due to specific causes, including brain tumors or aneurysms. I also note the headaches caused by abuse, oddly enough, the use of painkillers – analgesics.

If we proceed from the statistics of those who applied to medical institutions, then 80% are people with primary headaches.

– That is, taking pain medications can lead to headaches?

– And there is.It is believed that without harm to the body, analgesics can be used no more than twice a week or eight times a month. Especially when it comes to combined drugs containing, for example, both caffeine and anti-inflammatory agents.

– Primary headaches or tension headaches, as the name suggests, are associated with muscle tension, spasms? When I have a headache, I feel my neck, ears, shoulders and find pain points. This is it?

– Regarding your case, in order to answer this question with complete confidence, it is necessary to carry out diagnostics.But, most likely, this is it. Primary headaches are caused by tension in the muscles of the base of the skull, neck, cervical collar zone, caused in some cases by the same cervical osteochondrosis. They need to be relaxed either with the help of drug therapy or medical and drug blockades.

– These are not analgesics and other painkillers?

– Of course not. In almost all cases, muscle relaxants and antidepressants, as well as psychotherapy, should be used.In Russia, unfortunately, they are very critical of this. Although both domestic and European experts note that antidepressants and psychotherapy are the main methods of dealing with headaches. But this does not mean that you can independently prescribe the same muscle relaxants and antidepressants to yourself. It is more correct to contact a competent specialist.

– Is psychotherapy important for primary headaches?

– In fact, any headaches, the same secondary ones, lead to the development of depression.It can be subclinical. The person will not complain about it, but the quality of life is declining.

– About 80% of calls, as you said above, are associated with primary headaches. 20% are secondary, tumors, aneurysms?

– Actually less. The literature indicates that there are only 2-4% of all cases of headache. The rest of the cases are both associated with migraines and cluster headaches.

– Migraines are associated with great emperors and conquerors, as well as ladies from the novels of the XIX-XX centuries.What are her signs?

– Migraine is really typical for women. Men are more likely to have so-called cluster headaches.

Migraine is accompanied by intense throbbing headache. More often localized in one of the hemispheres of the head. This is evidenced by the very name of the disease, if translated from Greek. A headache attack is accompanied by nausea, vomiting, light and sound phobia. I want to go into a dark room, be in silence, sit or sleep.Migraine is simple, and sometimes combined. In the first case, it is just a characteristic headache. A combined or complex migraine is associated with the presence of an aura. Usually, before an attack, its precursors appear – visual effects in the form of an aura, flashes, loss of some visual areas. All this may be accompanied by drowsiness, decreased or increased appetite, fatigue, irritability. This usually happens 15 – 60 minutes immediately before the attack itself, and many people who suffer from migraine are well aware of these signs.During the headache itself, all these manifestations disappear completely. There are factors that provoke migraine attacks: red wine, beer, champagne, cheeses, smoked meats, and in general all products containing monosodium glutamate, as well as a change in weather. Sometimes migraines are associated with the menstrual cycle.

In fact, all many of these signs are characteristic of aneurysmal brain disease. The same vomiting, movement disorders, loss of sensitivity, weakness in the leg, arm. There is such a feeling, as if not your fingers or your leg was sitting out.The difference is very subtle and not always clear. But if migraine is just an unpleasant disease that reduces the quality of life, then aneurysm has lethal, critical consequences for a person. Therefore, such cases require a serious diagnostic study to exclude the presence of aneurysmal brain disease.

Red flags headache

– Could you name the key signs of a headache that require urgent medical attention?

– There are red flags of headaches or signs of serious pathologies, which must be taken very seriously and contact a medical institution as soon as possible.

• First of all, it is an acute, severe headache.
• The second red flag is a first-time headache.
• Third – severe and continuously increasing headache.
• Fourth – headache, which is worse when lying down.

This also includes a headache provoked by coughing, sneezing, physical exertion, headache in people over 50, as well as accompanied by fever or epileptic seizures.

– Convulsive, foam at the mouth?

– And this too, although in fact epileptic seizures have many other, not so obvious manifestations.

– Are red flags signs of a secondary headache?

– And there is. For example, a headache that worsens while lying down may be due to intracranial pressure or due to a brain tumor. A high fever accompanied by a headache can be a sign of meningitis.

– What is included in the diagnosis of headaches in order to accurately determine their root cause? And what are the opportunities in this area for the Medservice clinic?

– Headache diagnostics includes a consultation with a neurologist or therapist. It is imperative to consult an ophthalmologist, and in some cases to an ENT doctor. It is necessary to conduct a computed tomography of the sinuses of the nose.

An MRI scan of the brain is necessary to rule out or detect brain tumors.In some cases, magnetic resonance arteriography and magnetic resonance venography are needed. The first will determine the presence or absence of aneurysmal arterial dilatation, and the second – vascular thrombosis. Ultrasound of the vessels of the neck and head will help identify the presence of atherosclerotic plaques and changes in the vertebral arteries. Sometimes headaches are caused by pathologies of the cervical spine, which can be detected with an MRI. All these diagnostic tests can be done at the Medservice clinic.

– All these studies are not ordered in bulk?

– The approach is always differentiated.The patient is never referred for all of these diagnostic tests. Of course, for secondary headaches, a more serious examination is required. But in any case, there is a clinical minimum, which includes a complete blood count, consultations with an ophthalmologist and a neurologist, after which a decision can be made on the need for further diagnostic studies.

– What can a study by an ophthalmologist show?

– In the fundus, there may be indirect signs of increased intracranial pressure or even the presence of brain tumors.In general, at the first stage, the most important thing is to collect anamnesis, that is, a set of information by questioning the subject himself. It is great if the patient keeps a diary of headaches.

– How to keep a diary of headaches correctly?

– It is necessary to mark the day, the time of the onset of the headache, accompanied by signs – vomiting, temperature, the number and type of pills taken, after which manipulations the pain passed. It is important to indicate the provoking factors.

– Are there signs of a real doctor – a professional?

– Much becomes clear from the questions that the doctor asks when taking anamnesis. If the patient is asked about what kind of pain, presses, pulsates, compresses, what is accompanied, how it passes, what is the duration, what precedes, when it passes, is it accompanied by vomiting, fever, light and sound fear, then this is a big plus for the doctor. If you were not asked this and immediately sent for tests, then, most likely, the doctor does not quite understand what he is trying to find.

– Doctors often talk to people suffering from any disease about the benefits of a healthy lifestyle. What do you think about it? And do you lead yourself

– Perhaps my choice of profession is due to the fact that from time to time I have migraine attacks. And a healthy lifestyle, including physical activity, work and rest, sleep patterns, food restrictions, friendliness, sports – I run regularly, have become the norm for me. The main thing is to make it a habit of how to brush your teeth in the morning, so that you feel joy while doing it.Then there will be a result and there will be no violence over oneself. Otherwise, it will become another cause of stress, which leads to the same primary headaches.

Sore throat. What to do to make

pass quickly

Sore throat – one of the signs of the development of the inflammatory process in the back of the throat, tonsils. There are many reasons for this – general hypothermia of the body, infection, allergic factor, excessive consumption of cold drinks, ice cream, as well as overdrying or injury to the mucous membrane.

Depending on the cause of the development of the disease and the severity of inflammation, in addition to pain, a person may be disturbed by chills, runny nose, shortness of breath, hoarseness, hyperthermia, malaise, headache.

To quickly overcome the disease, you need to know which drugs will be most effective in this case. Only a doctor can accurately determine the treatment tactics. At the medical center Health of the capital, you can seek help from a family doctor or an otolaryngologist.Based on the results of the diagnosis, the specialist will give recommendations on the treatment of the disease and the prevention of its re-development.

Local treatment of sore throat is as follows.

• Rinsing is an important part of therapy. The composition of the solutions includes antiseptic, anti-inflammatory components. So, it is recommended to gargle with drugs such as Furacilin, Miramistin, Rotokan, OKI, Chlorophyllipt, Givalex. At home, you can prepare a soda-salt solution – for 250 ml of warm water, you need 1 teaspoon of each component.If desired, a drop of iodine can be added to the finished solution (if there is no intolerance to iodine-containing drugs). Gargling is recommended 4 times a day, preferably after meals.
• Throat sprays with analgesic, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory action – Orasept, Bioparox, Cameton, Tantum Verde, Strepsils, Hexoral. Irrigate the throat mucosa 3 times a day (in between rinses).
• Lozenges (Decatilen, Trachisan, Faringosept, Grammidin) – used to temporarily relieve sore throat.

If bacteria are the cause of the pain, as, for example, with angina, doctors recommend taking antibacterial agents (Amoxiclav, Flemoxin Solutab). In case of viral infection of the body, antiviral agents are prescribed (Arbidol, Kagocel, Ingavirin). When the temperature rises, antipyretic drugs should be taken – Nimesil, Ibuprofen, Paracetamol.

In addition to taking medications, in the treatment of sore throat, it is necessary to adhere to the general recommendations for the regimen, namely:

• drink plenty of fluids, which will reduce the concentration of toxins in the blood, accelerate their elimination, as well as reduce the temperature and prevent dehydration;
• to consume “soft” food, which cannot additionally injure the mucous membrane of the throat;
• drink rosehip broth, warm tea with lemon, honey, raspberries, currants;

90,015 quit smoking;

• control the level of humidity in the room – not less than 60%, which will prevent overdrying of the mucous throat;
• dress for the weather, avoiding hypothermia, and wear a scarf during the cold season;
• , if possible, try to breathe through the nose;
• Avoid air-conditioned rooms, drafts in the heat;
• do not shout, laugh out loud, so as not to strain your vocal cords.

With regard to traditional medicines, you should be careful with new recipes, as allergic reactions often develop. Thus, you can aggravate the course of the disease, increase the swelling of the tissues of the throat and provoke the appearance of shortness of breath. Warming procedures in the neck area are not recommended until the cause of the disease is known. If there is an infection, purulent inflammation in the tonsils or throat, heat can spread bacteria and damage healthy tissue.

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90,000 COVID-19: Take Two | MogilevNews

The coronavirus is still marching briskly across the planet. And if in the first and second wave of the sick while still in the process of treatment, the thought warmed: “I will recover, I will get antibodies, and I will relax”, then in the third we all realized, alas, the “covid projectile” very much falls twice into one funnel. There are several reasons for this. First, antibodies are not permanent, they gradually leave the body.Second, the virus mutates. Thirdly, resistance largely depends on the state of health of the person himself: age, immunity, the presence of bad habits and diseases that a person “grows over” over the years. And finally, fourthly, in some who have undergone coronavirus infection, antibodies are not detected in principle. Personally, I know at least 5 such examples among my friends.

My colleague, who underwent COVID-19 in November 2020, six months later, not only “remembered” the covid sensations, but also launched a reaction that hooked about 10 people of our editorial crew.Spoiler: the defense, for about two weeks, was held only by vacationers and vaccinated. As for my duty, I have been “living with covid” for about a year and a half, that is, I cover the news, talk with experts on the topic, participate in seminars, I could not ignore this incident.

Tatiana PODLIPSKAYA, journalist of “MV”:
– I did not immediately recognize the infection with covid for the first time. At first, my throat ached, then headaches appeared, the temperature rose to 38.5 degrees. However, she wrote off everything to banal ARVI, because after three days her condition returned to normal.And since it was on the weekend, I didn’t even go to the doctor. Meanwhile, the information covid attack was gaining momentum: I read about the possible consequences and began to worry. And then my sense of smell disappears. I want to say that in my entire life I have never encountered a loss of smell and a change in taste sensations. To be honest, it is somewhat scary. I rushed to the clinic, immediately prescribed a PCR test, and it turned out to be positive. After, I don’t know against the background of excitement or just symptomatology, for a couple of days the temperature remained in the region of 37-37.5, the headaches intensified.That’s actually my whole first case history. After the disappearance of covid symptoms, after a week and a half, weakness and drowsiness began to roll in waves. I realized that this is the post-appearance consequences. Unpleasant, but not the worst. I drank vitamins, trained the body with walks in a forest park and, to be honest, relaxed a little, fleetingly deciding that after being ill, one could no longer be particularly afraid of coronavirus.

– So a kind of “immortality mode” has started?

– It was a little bit.Of course, I was counting on a post-image bonus. Sometimes, I “drove” thoughts and that now you can think about the sea, somewhere I forgot about the mask. But, alas, I didn’t have antibodies.

– Has anyone in the family got infected?

– Husband, a week after my PCR test. Moreover, his smear showed COVID-19 in an inactive stage and antibodies.

– When the world started talking about vaccinations, did you think about vaccinations?

– Frankly, my opinion has changed more than once, from “yes, perhaps” to a categorical “no.”But as a result, I came to the conclusion that I will be vaccinated. Yes, and the experience of my colleagues helped me (many have already been vaccinated against coronavirus in the editorial board of “MV” – author).

– And? ..

– And “take 2” came. Alas, she did not have time to get vaccinated. In May, in our editorial office, another covid was confirmed. At the driver. The day before we went on a business trip. We drove in a car without masks, although I knew that you need to be vigilant, because you cannot be sure that there is no virus carrier next to you.A couple of days later, the already familiar symptoms appeared, and I rushed to the clinic. To be honest, there was a lot of hope that this was not COVID-19. I hoped that the “shell” could not hit me twice, and even so soon. Alas, I got it. Again the temperature kept, at times, jumping up to 38 degrees, again headaches and terrible fatigue, even in the absence of the slightest physical exertion. But there was still a difference. If for the first time colleagues stood firm, then this whole floor went to the hospital with a confirmed coronavirus.Not hooked vacationers and vaccinated colleagues.

– COVID-19 infection is new, treatment protocols are being adjusted. Has your medication list changed?

– Not much. But I can only compare my own cases, taking into account that, fortunately, there was no hospitalization. Yes, I was lucky that both times I was ill in a mild form, but, unfortunately, there are other sad examples, including among fellow journalists. Therefore, as soon as the body recovers, I will be vaccinated.
But what I want to note is the work of our Mogilev polyclinic №3.If for the first time I felt some kind of tension from doctors, endless queues, almost a week of waiting for the result of a PCR test, then this time I immediately felt that the situation was under control. And let the skeptics not curl at this phrase, it really is. Doctors work so clearly that the confidence that they know how to help persists throughout the entire path to recovery. The results of the smear were reported to me a day later, and at the same time the local therapist called and inquired about my health.I understand that someone may have other examples, but today I sincerely want to thank the medical workers of the polyclinic №3. They are real professionals, and besides, they are also not indifferent people!

– Well, the advice of “experienced”. What has the coronavirus taught you?

– When you get sick with covid, you understand: this is not an ordinary cold or flu. This is something unfamiliar to the body and therefore unpleasantly exciting. Today, my firm belief is that it is better to get antibodies with a vaccine (if there are no contraindications), and not with a disease, because I am convinced by my own example that the disease does not always generously “distribute” them.And it has been proven that post-vaccination antibodies (after vaccination) decrease more slowly than after an illness. Yes, the virus mutates, but at least some kind of protection is certainly better than its complete absence.
And the position of those who consider themselves “inviolable” is extremely incomprehensible to me: they do not wear a mask, sneeze in their palm – and immediately grab the handrail in transport, do not keep their distance, etc. Personal protective equipment is important not only to reduce the risk of your own infection. Let’s finally understand that the mask primarily protects the person who is nearby.Doctors have said more than once that coronavirus infection is spread using small drops. When you are wearing a mask, they don’t fly that far. After all, you never know for sure whether you are healthy, because no one has canceled the asymptomatic carriage of COVID-19. This is also true for the vaccinated. After all, a person who has received a vaccine can also be a carrier of the disease. Therefore, measures to prevent coronavirus infection are mandatory for everyone! This is the meaning and a simple scheme: by protecting ourselves, we protect others, primarily our loved ones.

On the topic
You need to understand and remember that any vaccine (any!), Including against COVID-19, does not protect in 100% of cases. Unfortunately, you may not qualify for the manufacturer’s guaranteed percentages. Therefore, during a pandemic, observe the rules of personal hygiene, respiratory etiquette, physical distancing and wear masks, without showing your ignorance about the topic “the mask does not protect anything.”

Vaccine | COVID-19 in Estonia

Why get vaccinated?

This will benefit both you and the congested healthcare system.By getting vaccinated, you can avoid serious illness and death. Vaccinated people are also at a lower risk of easily contracting coronavirus (immunity obtained with a vaccine is 70–95%, depending on the vaccine and individual indicators).

If you get sick while being vaccinated, you will already have antibodies against Covid-19 and your body will be better protected from the virus. The level of the virus in the body will be lower, your body will release fewer viral particles, which means that you are less likely to infect loved ones than in unvaccinated patients.

How effective are the vaccines used in Estonia?

One of the most important goals of vaccination against COVID-19 is to prevent severe (requiring hospitalization) disease and death. All vaccines used effectively fulfill this task: protection against severe disease in all vaccines is close to 100%.

Vaccination can prevent most mild to moderate cases of COVID-19 as well: Pfizer vaccine by 95 percent and Moderna vaccine by 94 percent.

The effectiveness of AstraZeneca vaccines in the prevention of symptomatic disease is on average 66 percent (although with different dosage regimens, the effectiveness can be increased to 80 percent or more).

What do you mean, “you have to get vaccinated twice”? Will there still be some benefit from the first vaccination?

Most of the vaccines available are two-stage vaccines. Despite the fact that a certain immunity is formed after the introduction of the first dose, it is still not enough, therefore, in the case of a two-stage vaccination course, it is important to get both injections.Janssen’s COVID-19 vaccine is administered in a single dose.

Does the vaccine protect against COVID-19 if the virus mutates?

Virus mutation is a normal process. Not all mutations reduce the effectiveness of developed vaccines. At the same time, scientists are closely monitoring genetic mutations of viral strains to assess their impact on vaccines that are being developed or under development.

How are COVID-19 vaccines different?

More information (in Estonian) here: https: // somblogi.wordpress.com/2020/12/22/triin-suvi-ja-pille-saalik-ravimiametist-selgitavad-kuidas-toimivad-meie-kehas-koroonavaktsiini-erinvad-tuubid/

• Inactivated vaccines contain killed viral particles.
• The subunit vaccine contains the virus antigen produced in the laboratory, but not the virus itself.
• Virus-like particles – different parts of the virus are synthesized in the laboratory, which in turn are combined into a single virus-like particle. It lacks the genetic material of the virus and does not reproduce by itself.
• mRNA vaccine contains mRNA in a lipid membrane, through which cells in our body create the antigen of the virus.
• Vector vaccines, when injected, a viral vector delivers DNA to a cell, where the virus antigen is made on the basis of the DNA.

Do COVID-19 vaccines have side effects?

Any medicine can cause side effects. They are listed in the information sheet that comes with each medicine or vaccine.The Pfizer and BioNTech coronavirus vaccine leaflet and possible side effects of the vaccine have been published in the Medicines Registry and on the Department of Medicines website.

Does a person who has had COVID-19 need to be vaccinated, and when?

The State Expert Commission on Immunoprophylaxis recommends vaccinating people who have recovered from COVID-19 with one dose for 6 months after recovery, after which the vaccination course is considered complete.

Even if more than 6 months have passed since the COVID-19 illness, the commission recommends vaccinating with only one dose of the vaccine to ensure long-term protection.

People who have had an illness do not need a second dose. In this case, there may be more side effects.

If a person falls ill with COVID-19 within two weeks after the first dose of the vaccine, he should be considered ill, vaccinated with one dose, preferably 6 months after recovery, after which the vaccination course is considered complete.

People who become ill with COVID-19 more than two weeks after the first dose of the vaccine, but before receiving the second dose, do not need the second dose, and the vaccination course can be considered complete.

Will the vaccine help me if I am already sick and in serious condition?

In case of COVID-19 disease in the acute phase, vaccination is postponed.

If a person has had COVID-19 or has a positive serostatus (that is, has enough antibodies in the blood), this is not a contraindication to vaccination.

People who have had COVID-19 are recommended to be vaccinated with one dose for 6 months after recovery. After that, the vaccination course is considered complete. Even if more than 6 months have passed since the COVID-19 illness, only one dose of the vaccine should be vaccinated to ensure long-term protection. People who have had an illness do not need to receive a second dose. In this case, the reactogenicity of the vaccine may be even higher, and the side effects may be greater.

People who become ill with COVID-19 after the first dose of the vaccine will not receive the second dose and will be considered vaccinated for the next 6 months.

If a person received the 1st dose of the vaccine and got sick with the coronavirus, what will happen with the 2nd dose?

If more than 2 weeks have passed between the first vaccination and the illness, the 2nd vaccination is not given. If less than 2 weeks – then 2 = I will be vaccinated in about 6 months.

Can I go to workout after vaccination?

If you feel good, then you can go to workout. If side effects occur, such as fever, we advise you not to go to workout.

Does drinking alcohol before vaccination affect vaccination results?

Drinking alcohol is not a direct contraindication and does not affect the formation of antibodies. However, in chronic alcoholics, the immune response may be reduced.

Definitely not worth the drunk vaccination! Please show respect for the doctors and nurses who vaccinate.

Drinking alcohol is not recommended to mitigate potential side effects.

Are all approved COVID-19 vaccines safe?

The purpose of the vaccine is to mimic the virus. With the help of a vaccine, we must deceive the body, create the false impression that it is being attacked by the SARS-CoV-2 virus. The immune system learns with the help of the vaccine to recognize the spike protein of the coronavirus and fight it more effectively.

No medicine or vaccine is 100 percent safe. However, we can say with complete confidence that the risk of serious side effects from the vaccine is hundreds, if not thousands of times lower than the risk of contracting a severe coronavirus.

The side effects of the vaccine are temporary and no long-term side effects have yet been identified. At the same time, COVID-19 often causes long-term harm to the body. Thus, the use of new vaccines is a weighted risk, which clearly speaks in their favor.

More details can be found here: https://www.ut.ee/et/teadus/teadlaste-vastused-koroonakusimustele (in Estonian).

With which vaccine manufacturers has the European Union entered into preliminary purchase agreements to date?

The EU’s single vaccine portfolio includes vaccines and candidate vaccines from 8 manufacturers.The European Commission has entered into pre-purchase agreements with the following vaccine manufacturers: AstraZeneca, Sanofi, Janssen Pharmaceutica NV, Pfizer / BioNTech, Curevac and Moderna.

To date, Estonia has joined 5 of them: AstraZeneca, Janssen Pharmaceutica NV, Pfizer / BioNTech, Curevac and Moderna. Estonia may join the agreement with Sanofi later.

In addition, the European Commission is in talks with the vaccine manufacturer Novavax and, at the request of a number of allied countries, also with the manufacturer Valneva.

Do vaccines contain unknown ingredients, mercury, chips or other suspicious or toxic ingredients?

Those vaccines under review and marketing authorization from the European Medicines Agency do not contain particles of mercury or unknown compounds. Finding chips and the like in vaccines are conspiracy theories. All medicinal products for which a trade license of the European Union has been issued are tested, safe, high-quality and effective.All vaccine components will be listed on the information sheet accompanying the product.

Additional information on vaccines is available here: https://vaktsineeri.ee/ru/covid-19/vakcziny-protiv-covid-19/

Are all approved COVID-19 vaccines universal?

Since there are several vaccines in development and plans to market, their properties may of course differ.

This or that vaccine is suitable or not suitable for someone, will be indicated in the information sheet for the drug.

Who and what to vaccinate is best known by the health worker who will vaccinate.

More information on vaccines can be found here: https://vaktsineeri.ee/ru/covid-19/vakcziny-protiv-covid-19/

What is the interval between two doses of vaccine?

Vaccine dose intervals have been established by the manufacturer based on clinical trials. According to the results of these studies, in the case of the interval set by the manufacturer, the vaccine is most effective.Therefore, it is important to receive the second dose at a certain time, usually not earlier than indicated in the description of the properties of the vaccine. For example, if a person becomes ill and cannot come for a second dose of vaccine at the appointed time, then he can receive it later, but preferably as soon as possible after recovery.

Interval between two vaccinations for different vaccines:

• Pfizer / BioNTech Vaccine: 6 weeks (maximum protection 7 days after second dose)
• Moderna vaccine: 4 weeks (maximum protection – 14 days after the second dose)
• AstraZeneca vaccine (maximum protection – 15 days after the second dose)

How long does it take between the COVID-19 vaccine and the encephalitis vaccine?

There must be 14 days between the COVID-19 vaccine and the tick-borne encephalitis vaccine.

Can I drink alcohol after vaccination?

We do not recommend drinking alcohol either before or after vaccination. After vaccination against COVID-19, side effects such as fever, headache, etc. may temporarily occur. The interaction of alcohol with the vaccine can further worsen your well-being.

Why do they ask before vaccination if I had a coronavirus?

Previous COVID-19 infection is not a contraindication to vaccination.According to the current recommendation, those who have recovered should also be vaccinated with one dose of the vaccine.

By vaccinating, we get ten times more antibodies than just having a virus. The vaccine also gives us longer lasting immunity.

In the case of a limited supply of vaccines, when choosing a target group for vaccination, preference should be given to those who have not been sick with COVID-19 within the last 6 months.

If a person has had a coronavirus, but does not know about it, he is vaccinated with two doses of the vaccine, this is not dangerous to health.

Can I eat before vaccination? Or is it possible not to eat?

You can eat before vaccination. If you wish, you can come without eating, but it is still recommended to have a snack to improve your overall well-being.