How Common Senior Health Issues Trigger Headaches
As seniors age, they may notice that headaches seem to occur more frequently or feel different from how they did in their younger years. What they may not realize is that common age-related health conditions are often triggers for these troublesome headaches. With the help of their healthcare team and support from elder care providers and their family, they can begin to understand these connections and find relief, which can improve their overall quality of life.
High Blood Pressure
High blood pressure affects nearly half of all adults over 65, and while it’s often called the “silent killer” for good reason, it can sometimes announce itself through persistent headaches. When blood pressure spikes, it can cause a dull, throbbing pain that many describe as feeling like pressure around the head.
For seniors, monitoring their blood pressure regularly and working closely with their healthcare provider to maintain optimal levels through medication, diet, and gentle exercise is key. Additionally, elder care can help them keep a headache diary to track the patterns between blood pressure readings and headache occurrences.
Diabetes and Blood Sugar Fluctuations
Both high and low blood sugar levels can trigger headaches in seniors with diabetes. When blood glucose drops too low, the brain doesn’t receive adequate fuel, often resulting in headaches accompanied by dizziness or confusion. On the other side of things, consistently high blood sugar can lead to dehydration and headaches.
Elder care can help seniors maintain consistent meal timing and monitor blood sugar levels as recommended by their doctor. They can also educate seniors about healthy snacks and encourage them to keep them on hand to prevent dangerous drops, along with staying well-hydrated throughout the day.
Sleep Apnea
Sleep apnea becomes more common with age and can be a significant headache trigger. When breathing repeatedly stops during sleep, oxygen levels drop and carbon dioxide builds up, often leading to morning headaches that can persist throughout the day.
Seniors who wake up with headaches regularly should discuss sleep apnea screening with their doctor. Treatment options like CPAP machines can dramatically improve both sleep quality and reduce headache frequency. Also, sleeping with their head slightly elevated and maintaining a healthy weight can also help.
Vision Problems
Age-related vision changes, including presbyopia, cataracts, and macular degeneration, can cause eye strain that manifests as headaches. When seniors squint or strain to see clearly, the muscles around their eyes and forehead become tense, leading to tension headaches.
Elder care can remind them to schedule regular eye exams and ensure their prescription glasses or contacts are up-to-date. They can also work with family members to assess lighting in the home and offer recommendations if needed. Additionally, seniors should take breaks from phone, tablet, and computer screens on a regular basis.
Creating an Action Plan
The good news is that managing these underlying conditions often leads to significant headache relief. Seniors should start by keeping a detailed headache log that includes their blood pressure readings, blood sugar levels, sleep quality, and daily activities. This information will help them and their healthcare team identify patterns and triggers.
It’s also important to work with the medical team to optimize treatment for all their health conditions, not just the headaches themselves. Sometimes, adjusting medication timing, improving sleep hygiene, or updating their glasses prescription can provide more relief than traditional headache medications alone.
Elder care and family can help seniors track their headaches and take steps to monitor their health issues consistently to help keep headache triggers at bay to make sure they are as healthy as possible.
Sources: https://www.convivacarecenters.com/en/resources/headaches-after-60-types-triggers-treatments
https://www.mayoclinic.org/symptoms/headache/basics/causes/sym-20050800
https://www.neurologyadvisor.com/features/headache-in-older-adults-unique-causes-and-treatments/
https://www.seniorlifestyle.com/resources/blog/migraines-in-seniors/
If you or an aging loved one is considering Elder Care Services in the Lee’s Summit, MO area, please contact the caring staff at Elder Care of Kansas City today.
Proudly serving Jackson, Clay, Platte, and Cass Counties in Missouri, as well as Johnson and Wyandotte Counties in Kansas for over 30 years. Call us at 816-333-3322.
Prior to purchasing Elder Care, Kevin spent over 20 years in the health insurance industry.In his most recent position, he was in a financial operations role with Humana where he worked with doctors, nurses and other health professionals developing programs to keep Humana members healthy.Their focus on primary care and medication adherence improved the lives of thousands of seniors in Kansas City and the surrounding area.
Kevin and his wife, Lori, have three children.Kevin has Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees from the University of Missouri.
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