Why Do You Get Headache Attacks When You're Sick? ft. Fred Cohen, MD

About this episode

This episode discusses the occurrence of headache attacks during viral illnesses and offers insights on their causes and management.

In this episode, host Lindsay Weitzel, PhD, is joined by headache medicine specialist Fred Cohen, MD, director of Headache Intervention in New York City and assistant professor at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, to discuss why headache attacks commonly occur during viral illnesses like the flu, COVID, and other infections. They explore how inflammation and immune responses during illness can trigger headache attacks, why some people experience migraine attacks when they are sick, and why headache attacks can sometimes continue even after the infection has resolved. They offer guidance on recognizing different types of headache attacks and understanding when to seek medical evaluation.

People in this episode

Host: Lindsay Weitzel, PhD

Guest: Fred Cohen, MD

Topics covered

• headache attacks
• viral illnesses
• migraine
• inflammation
• immune response
• medical evaluation

Keywords

• headache
• migraine
• viral infections
• COVID
• flu
• inflammation
• immune response
• medical evaluation

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, Headache Intervention

Places: New York City

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