Simon Cowell wears sunglasses to tackle issue affecting 6 million
Simon Cowell often wears rose-tinted glasses on set - and it isn't a fashion statement. The tough Britain's Got Talent judge previously revealed a serious condition he faces, following rumours of a 'mystery illness'.
"I just found out according to the internet, I have a 'mystery illness'," he said on Instagram last year, according to the Mirror. "For anyone concerned, I missed two auditions at the end of one day, two weeks ago, because I do get migraines after long days in the filming lights."
Addressing his 2.6 million followers, he then added: "PS. This is why I wear these glasses!" Headaches and migraines are frequently mixed up, but migraines specifically describe intense, pulsating pain often concentrated on one side.
Typically, this pain can persist anywhere from two hours up to three days. Some people endure migraines multiple times a week, whereas others encounter them less often.
Further symptoms may include fatigue, food cravings, mood swings, and increased urination, although these tend to decrease in severity with age. The exact cause of migraines remains uncertain, but known triggers include anxiety, menstruation, unhealthy eating habits, and excessive caffeine intake.
In a conversation with the NHS, TV Doctor Dawn Harper, once explained: " Migraine is an incredibly common problem that affects around six million people in the UK and two-thirds of those are women. I do see a lot of people who describe their headaches as migraine and, in fact, I think we have to be careful that as miserable as headaches are, they are not all migraines.
"And migraines classically are one-sided headaches often associated with nausea, quite often actually make you sick. Usually, people feel they have to just lie down in a darkened room.
"They don't like the lights and they feel, they really are severe headaches, which last for several hours. And then some poor folk will last for two or three days. A migraine can be very frightening."
For anyone experiencing migraines, a GP might prescribe medication such as anti-nausea drugs and 'triptans' that alter how your brain perceives pain signals. However, trying some home remedies can also help manage the pain.
Getting enough sleep, reducing stress, and limiting caffeine intake can help, along with lying down in a dark room and resting. NHS advice adds: "If your migraines are severe, you might be offered other things to help, such as learning relaxation techniques and acupuncture.
"If these treatments do not manage your migraines, you may be offered a new type of medicine called a gepant. These work in a different way than other migraine medicines, so may be of more use to you.
"If none of these treatments help your symptoms, or they're getting worse, you may be referred to a specialist for further tests and treatment."
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