Even If You Have Allergies Frequent Headaches May Indicate Migraine
Hamilton suggests talking with your primary care doctor if youre having frequent headaches with allergy symptoms. That might mean that your allergies are actually triggering migraines or contributing, she says.
In that situation it might be useful to try migraine medications both as-needed, or abortive, medications and potentially preventive medications, she adds.
If it is a migraine, treating the attack with typically wont be as effective as a targeted migraine treatment, says Strauss.
A good rule of thumb is that if youre not getting complete relief of your headaches from over-the-counter medications, or if the headaches are becoming more frequent or frequent enough that you’re having to take an over-the-counter medication several times a week, you should definitely seek a doctors care, says Hamilton.
What Tests Will Be Done To Diagnose A Dust Mite Allergy
Your healthcare provider may use different allergy tests to help diagnose a dust mite allergy. These tests may include:
Skin prick test
This test exposes your body to small amounts of dust mite proteins.
Your healthcare provider will first clean a test area of your skin with iodine or alcohol. The test area is usually on your forearm or upper back.
Your allergist will use a thin needle to prick the surface of your skin with dust mite proteins. The lancet wont go deep into your skin. Youll only feel a tiny pinch, and you wont bleed.
Allergists may place droplets of dust mite allergens on your skin. They then use a lancet to scratch your skin lightly. The droplets will enter your skin through the scratch. Youll only feel slight discomfort, and you wont bleed.
Allergic reactions typically occur within 15 minutes of exposure to dust mite proteins. Reactions may include skin discoloration or raised, round spots called wheals that look like bug bites.
Your allergist will measure the size of your wheal and flare . The size helps determine if you are sensitive to dust mite allergens.
A skin prick test takes less than an hour.
Blood test
During a blood test, your healthcare provider will use a thin needle to withdraw a small amount of blood from a vein in your arm. The blood sample goes to a laboratory. The lab adds dust mite proteins to your blood sample and measures the levels of IgE antibodies in it. High levels of IgE antibodies indicate a dust mite allergy.
What You Can Do
- Write down any symptoms you’re experiencing, including any that may seem unrelated to allergy-like symptoms.
- Write down your family’s history of allergy and asthma, including specific types of allergies if you know them.
- Make a list of all the medications, vitamins or supplements you’re taking.
- Ask if you should stop taking any medications that would affect the results of an allergy skin test. Antihistamines, for example, could suppress your allergy symptoms.
Preparing a list of questions will help you make the most of your time together. For symptoms that may be related to dust mite allergy, some basic questions to ask your doctor include:
- What is the most likely cause of my signs and symptoms?
- Are there any other possible causes?
- Will I need any allergy tests?
- Should I see an allergy specialist?
- What is the best treatment?
- I have other health conditions. How can I best manage these conditions together?
- Is there a generic alternative to the medicine you’re prescribing for me?
- What changes can I make at home to reduce my exposure to dust mites?
- Of the changes you’ve described, which are the most likely to help?
- If the first round of drug treatments and environmental changes we’ve discussed don’t help, what will we try next?
- Are there any brochures or other printed material that I can take home? What websites do you recommend?
In addition to the questions that you’ve prepared to ask your doctor, don’t hesitate to ask questions during your appointment.
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What Does An Allergy Headache Feel Like
When you experience a headache caused by allergies, you may feel them in any of these spaces within your sinuses. It may even feel like your face, rather than your head, is what really hurts. You may have pain in the cheeks that radiates to your jaw and teeth. You may feel pain on the top of your head.
Allergies may also trigger a migraine headache. This type of headache may include throbbing, and is usually felt on one side of the head. You may find that the pain gets worse in sunlight or that you also feel nauseated.
The skull has a series of connected, hollow spaces known as sinuses, which are lined with soft tissue and a layer of mucus. These sinuses help humidify and filter the air you breathe, and help drain the nose. Allergy symptoms often appear in the sinuses, like when your nose is running or stuffed up.
Some of the spaces that make up the sinuses are found in the:
- Between or behind the eyes
- Behind the nose
You may experience headaches and pain if your sinuses are swollen or their openings are obstructed. This often happens with allergies. Swelling and blockage in the sinuses can prevent normal drainage and airflow, causing a buildup of pressure. Other allergy triggers, such as smoke or certain foods, can lead to headaches.
The degree of pain from an allergy headache can vary widely, from dull to almost debilitating. The level of pain may also change with your position, such as whether you are standing or lying down.
Sinus Health And Allergies: Dust Mites
An allergen is a material that produces an allergic reaction. Allergens can enter into the nose through the sinuses, causing irritation, inflammation and infection. Allergy attacks can occur indoors or outdoors. Pollen allergies are likely to attack your sinuses when you are outdoors, while dust mite allergies find their way into your sinuses most often when you are indoors.
Dust mites can hide in pillows and bedding
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How Do Allergies Cause Migraine Headaches
The link is complex. Doctors are still trying to figure it out. So far, they know that your nervous system, endocrine system, and immune system all play a role.
If you get migraines, you have a sensitive nervous system. Your body tends to react very quickly, or overreact, to changes in your environment that it views as threats.
On top of that, exposure to allergens triggers your immune system to release certain chemicals. They can fuel inflammation throughout your body, all of which can set you up for a migraine.
If youâre prone to migraine headaches, your symptoms may be more severe during allergy season. Some people can also have ânonallergicâ triggers like perfume, the smell of gasoline, cigarette smoke, and weather changes.
Are There Medcications That Treat Allergies And Migraine At The Same Time
If you have allergies and migraine, itâs a good idea to see a doctor for both. Your primary care physician may recommend you speak to specialists like an allergist or ENT, or a neurologist.
There are plenty of over-the-counter treatments for allergies, including decongestants, corticosteroid nose sprays, and antihistamines. And your doctor may offer other treatments, such as allergy shots or other prescription drugs.
On top of controlling your allergies with medications, your doctor may still recommend you take preventive or acute medications for migraine.
To make it easier for your doctor to diagnose and help you find the right treatment, itâs important to keep careful track of migraine symptoms and possible allergy triggers, says Dr. Crystal.
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How Does A Dust Mite Allergy Affect My Body
If you have a dust mite allergy, the first time you encounter dust mite proteins, your body responds by creating immunoglobulin E . IgE is antibodies that your immune system makes to attack allergens, even though these allergens might not be harmful. Once you encounter dust mite proteins again, your immune system has a greater response. This response causes allergy symptoms.
Itchy Red Or Watery Eyes
Being allergic to dust and dust mites can also cause you to have itchy, red or watery eyes.
This is another natural defense your body conducts when it reacts to something sensitive in the environment.
When dust particles come into contact with mast cells on the eyes, the response is to release histamine and other chemicals that cause blood vessels to leak, which makes your eyes red, watery and itchy.
Unfortunately, these dust allergies symptoms are shared with other eye diseases and cold viruses.
Trying to diagnose an allergy to dust off of this one sign alone is not feasible.
However, if youre noticing it alongside symptoms #1 and #2, it just may likely be caused by an allergic reaction to dust .
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Complications Of Allergic Rhinitis
If you have allergic rhinitis, there’s a risk you could develop further problems.
A blocked or runny nose can result in difficulty sleeping, drowsiness during the daytime, irritability and problems concentrating. Allergic rhinitis can also make symptoms of asthma worse.
The inflammation associated with allergic rhinitis can also sometimes lead to other conditions, such as nasal polyps, sinusitis and middle ear infections. These are described below.
Do You Have A Dust Allergy
A dust allergy can cause a variety of symptoms similar in nature toother types of allergies.
The best way to determine if your dust allergy is caused by dust mites oranother allergen is to seek aprofessional diagnosis. In addition to asking questions about your symptomsand home, the doctor may examineyour noses lining with a lighted instrument.If your nasal passages are pale, bluish, or swollen, its a good indicationyou suffer from an airborne allergy.Your doctor may refer you to an allergist for further testing to narrow downthe cause. Allergists commonlyconduct these two tests.
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Bed Dust Mites Cause Allergy
A long night of sleep should make Tatiana Brovko feel rested and refreshed. Instead, she felt exhausted.
“I would wake up with headaches, more sinus headaches right in my sinus area, middle forehead,” she said. “I’d have huge, dark circles under my eyes and I wouldn’t be able to breathe.”
Not getting enough air and a night of tossing and turning led to Brovko’s morning headaches. Next would come the sneezing. If it was an allergy, why didn’t it bother her outside? The symptoms didn’t come and go with the seasons either.
Allergy specialist Dr. Marc Meth said the answer lies in her bed.
“They’re in the mattress, they’re in the rest of your bedding, they’re in your pillow, they’re in your box spring, they can be in your carpeting , they’re sort of throughout the bedroom,” he said.
What Meth is referring to are dust mites, microscopic creatures that live and breed in mattresses and pillows. Their body parts and feces are a component of common house dust. Meth says they contain a protein that causes allergic reactions in many people. They’re the reason you may wake up sneezing, with a headache and stuffed up.
“It would be nice if you could just take an antihistamine and be OK,” Meth said. “I’d say with most patients with dust mite allergies, antihistamines usually aren’t enough.”
That can escalate into using prescription nasal sprays, and ultimately, allergy shots. But the best thing to do is create a barrier between you and the dust mites.
Can Dust Allergies Cause Hives Fever Sore Throat And Sinusitis
Generally, a dust allergy will cause the symptoms we covered above. These include coughing, postnasal drip, red and itchy skin, an itchy nose and throat, watery eyes, congestion, and sneezing.
There is a difference between itchy skin and hives. If your skin itches, you may scratch it until it turns red and swollen, and sometimes even until it bleeds. This is still not hives, though, which is an allergic reaction. According to the European Centre for Allergy Research Foundation , hives can occur, but this is considered rare.
Sinus infections, also known as sinusitis, can occur if the dust mite irritation causes inflammation which can trap mucus in your sinuses. This can become infected causing sinus pain and discolored, foul tasting nasal discharge.
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What Is Causing Your Allergy Headache
There are a number of common factors that can trigger your allergy headache or migraine. It could take you some time before you find out exactly what is affecting you. Some of the most common causes include
- Hay fever and other seasonal allergies like pollen. Ragweed is one of the most common seasonal allergens, but any kind of pollen can cause them.
- Pet dander is a common household allergen. Pet dander is more likely to cause respiratory symptoms such as wheezing and shortness of breath, but it can cause headaches too.
- Mold and mildew are everywhere! If you have mold in your home and allergic reactions to it, you may need to invest in professional mold remediation for the good of your health.
- Dust mite droppings are impossible to eliminate, no matter how much you clean. They are a common trigger of allergic asthma but can also trigger headache. A good mattress cover and pillow covers can help reduce exposure to dust mites if they are a trigger for you.
To diagnose your allergic reactions, we do a careful history and physical exam. We do tests to figure out what you are allergic to, how severe that allergic reaction is and whether or not it causes a headache. We will also evaluate you for other triggers and causes of headaches, including cluster headaches and SUNCT that can cause similar symptoms to allergy headaches.
Can Treating My Allergies Prevent Migraine Attacks
So, if you have allergies and migraine, what can you do to feel better?
Well, you can start by treating your allergies. Just like with other migraine triggers, avoiding the trigger in the first place can help you have fewer attacks.
One study found that immunotherapy for allergies helped younger patients get headaches less often.
That said, Dr. Crystal has noticed in her own practice that for some of her patients, starting allergy shots can cause migraine to get worse in the short-term. âPre-treating with an anti-inflammatory prior to the shots may help.â
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How Can You Treat Allergy Symptoms
If you are among the 20 percent of Americans who suffer from symptoms of allergic rhinitis, you know how inconvenient and even debilitating an allergy attack can be.
As a result, pharmaceutical companies have increasingly focused their research and development efforts on developing new medications that can be used to treat allergy symptoms.
Many allergy medications were previously available by prescription only, but today, there are many over-the-counter medication options as well.
There are three main classes of drugs that are used to treat symptoms of allergies, including allergy headaches: antihistamines, decongestants, and corticosteroids.
You May Need Specialists To Treat Your Migraine And Allergies
Its important to be aware that migraine and allergies are commonly present in the same person and both issues need to be addressed, says Hamilton.
It might take potentially seeing different doctors both an allergist and a neurologist and trying different medications for both conditions. In some cases, you may not get complete relief until you address both issues, she says.
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Dont Let Allergy Headaches Get In The Way Of Your Life
An allergy headache or migraine can be quite debilitating that it can get in the way of your daily life. You already go through a lot because of your allergies, so the last thing you want is to experience even more pain.
As such, its best to limit exposure to allergens to also avoid allergy headaches or migraines.
Are you interested in learning more about indoor air quality and how you can improve it? If so, then please know that our team here at Airfree is always ready to help! Give us a call now and well be happy to answer your questions.
Do Allergies Trigger Migraine Attacks
In short, yes, allergies can trigger migraine attacks.
A study found that migraine is more common in people with seasonal allergies, and, if youâre a migraine sufferer, getting seasonal allergies can make your migraine attacks more frequent.
âThis may be related to inflammation caused by allergic rhinitis,â says Dr. Crystal, âor by direct activation of the trigeminal nerve from nasal congestion.â
Sometimes allergies cause migraine attacks in a more roundabout way. For example, allergies can interrupt sleep, which in turn triggers an attack. And, according to the American Migraine Foundation, medications used to treat allergies and asthma, like Albuterol inhalers, can also trigger headaches.
Since allergies and migraine can interact in several different ways , it can get a little confusing.
âItâs important to note that migraine and allergic rhinitis are both highly prevalent diseases, frequently co-exist, and may share common mechanisms,â says Dr. Crystal. âPeople with migraine may experience more severe migraine symptoms with co-existing allergies.â
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What To Expect From Your Doctor
Your doctor is likely to ask you a number of questions. Being ready to answer them may reserve time to go over any points you want to spend more time on. Your doctor may ask:
- When did you first begin experiencing symptoms?
- Do these symptoms bother you throughout the year?
- Are symptoms worse at certain times of day?
- Are the symptoms worse in the bedroom or other rooms of the house?
- Do you have indoor pets, and do they go in the bedrooms?
- What kind of self-care techniques have you used, and have they helped?
- What, if anything, appears to worsen your symptoms?
- Is there dampness or water damage in the home or workplace?
- Do you have an air conditioner in the home?
- Do you have asthma?
The impact of a pollen allergy may be noticeable because the allergy is seasonal. For example, you may have more difficulty managing your asthma for a short time during the summer. Dust mite allergy, on the other hand, is due to something to which you’re constantly exposed to some degree. Therefore, you may not recognize it as a factor complicating your asthma when, in fact, it may be a primary cause.
