The mask, this object which is now part of our daily life, is essential to counter the Covid virus. But it seems to cause side effects, like migraine … So, true or false? We take stock and give you the tips to know.
Every day, your head becomes a gas factory and you struggle to cope with the rise in headaches? If this problem is recent, it is possible that it is related … to the wearing of the mask. Having become compulsory in public places, we wear it for hours on end, and sometimes we add our glasses or even our headphones when working in an open space. Result: a feeling of suffocation can be felt, and it is not uncommon to hear at work: "I can't take the mask anymore", "I'm on my third headache pill" or, "I'm going to take some air to breathe". Not to mention the fact that in France, 20% of the population suffers from migraine, according to the French Federation of Neurology, and with the wearing of a mask, patients notice a worsening of pain. Problem? These testimonies which are not yet corroborated by clear data.
Few concrete data
Scientific data on the subject remain scarce. However, last June, a scientific article (the only one published for the moment) showed that the prolonged wearing of the mask caused many "disadvantages for American caregivers who wear the mask all day". For her part, Sabine Debremaeker, president of the association La Voix des migraineux, believes on BFMTV than "Prolonged wearing of a mask can trigger a migraine, even in a confined room, with stale air". Out of 343 healthcare professionals, 245 also reported that they suffered from headaches after wearing surgical or FFP2-type masks. However, "the level of evidence remains quite low and there is a lack of large, well-conducted studies to be able to have a better idea of the frequency of these adverse effects," declares Le Monde Alexandre Bellier, university hospital assistant at CHU Grenoble-Alpes. But the influx of testimonies pushes to find solutions.
Masks vs. our heads
On the Doctissimo site, Prof. Bertrand Dautzenberg, pulmonologist, explains that "Headaches can be caused by the repeated contraction of the muscles of the face (eyes, mouth, jaws)." Exhaling CO2 in the mask can also create this type of symptoms ", adds Dr. Crest, also questioned on Doctissimo. So what to do? Specialists advise breathing slowly and deeply, while remembering to relax the muscles in your face. Another tactic: fight against dehydration, caused by wearing a mask and known to be a cause of headaches. So don't hesitate to drink (water) more than usual and above all, regularly. As for small outdoor breaks, they will be your best friends: get out of your office or your open space for a few minutes and BLOW (always with your mask on and away from others, of course)!