Headaches: A universal pain in the neck
Chronic condition may need stronger relief
Relax, take a deep breath …
stop that headache
Help your doctor help you … and keep a headache diary
Although it is not always possible to prevent a headache, it may be possible to reduce its frequency by determining and avoiding what cause it. Triggers are factors that spark a headache. Most triggers arerelated to migraines but may be related to cluster and tension-type headaches as well.
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Not just any headache! |
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Help your doctor help you … … and keep a headache diary |
In order to pinpoint your type of headache, which will help to diagnose and treat it correctly, pay close attention when it surfaces.
Discuss any frequent headaches with your doctor, who can recommend appropriate treatment.
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A closer look
A contradiction in terms
Do pain relievers treat a headache,
or cause a headache?
Yes
Regular use of pain relievers — including nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, such as aspirin and ibuprofen — can actually cause headaches. “Rebound” or medication-overuse headaches can occur when the medication is taken more than two to three days a week or more than the recommended dosage. For reasons not fully understood, a drop in the level of drugs in the blood precipitates another headache, which in turn precipitates another dose. The cycle continues resulting in chronic daily headaches with more severe and frequent pain. Rebound headaches can occur with prescription drugs as well.
Relax, take a deep breath …
stop that headache
Got a headache? Who doesn’t? The economy is still shaky. The first day of school is too far off for working parents. And the jackhammer down the street — or that heated argument moments ago — probably isn’t helping either.
If you know which type of headache you have there are many strategies you can try to stop the pain. “Be patient: it can take time to sort out which option or combination works best. Usually, it’s safe to start with headache self-care strategies that don’t require a visit to the doctor or a trip to the drugstore. If headaches persist or are severe, you need to discuss the problem with your doctor,” said Dr. Jan Cook, medical director for Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts.
Help your doctor In order to pinpoint your type of headache, which will help to diagnose and treat it correctly, pay close attention when it surfaces.
Discuss any frequent headaches with your doctor, who can recommend appropriate treatment.
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Relieving headaches without medications
Five non-medicated approaches to ease the pain
include the following:
Slow the full-court press
When a headache strikes, take time to unwind. Use your fingertips to lightly massage tight muscles on the back of your neck, scalp, and shoulders. Moist heat at the back of the neck may help, too. Next, close your eyes and breathe deeply and evenly for several minutes. Mentally count from one to three as you inhale, pause for a moment, then count from three to one as you exhale. If possible, rest for a while with your eyes shut and your head propped comfortably on a pillow.
Especially helpful for: Tension-type headaches
Hush the noise, dim the lights
Rest in a quiet, dark room with a cool washcloth or ice pack on your forehead. Try to sip fluids, especially to replace fluids lost through vomiting.
Especially helpful for: Migraine headaches
Adjust your lifestyle
Get enough sleep. Eat a healthy diet and try skipping certain foods that can trigger the headache. Carve out time for daily meditation or other forms of relaxation to buffer stress. Quit smoking, avoid red wine and limit other alcohol. Be active: your health will be better all around and you’ll feel less anxious and stressed.
Especially helpful for: Tension-type, migraine and cluster headaches
Practice yoga
Yoga, which means to unite in Sanskrit, is an Eastern form of exercise that “unites” mind, body and spirit to produce a state of balance and well-being. Yoga combines deep breathing with various body postures to promote relaxation and reduction in stress.
To learn some basic poses, click here
Especially helpful for: Tension-type and migraine headaches
The deep, even breathing and sustained concentration meditation requires relaxes the body and brain. When practiced regularly, meditation helps ease many stress-related health problems. Consider a meditation class or CD, or follow the steps described in “Meditation” under A Healthy Me on the Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts website (http://www.ahealthyme.com/topic/topic13868).
Take a break. Click here.
Especially helpful for: Tension-type and migraine headaches
When is medication needed?
Headaches can be connected to health problems like colds or flu, or can occur independently. Certain types of headaches are hereditary — that is, they run in the family. So if your mother often had migraines, you may have them, too. Some headaches may occur repeatedly for days or weeks — boom, boom, boom — then disappear for a long stretch, only to start up again at a later date in time. People can have more than one kind of headache at the same time (a problem known as mixed headache).
Forty-five million Americans suffer chronic headaches, reports the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS). Non-medicated approaches alone may not do enough to quell certain headaches, especially migraines and cluster headaches.
Over-the-counter pain-relievers ibuprofen (Motrin), acetaminophen (Tylenol) or naproxen sodium (Aleve) can help, though it’s best not to rely on these too often. Aspirin is another self-care choice (check with your doctor first since some people shouldn’t take it). Children should never be given aspirin due to a rare, life-threatening condition called Reye’s syndrome.
Like any other medical problem, if your headaches are severe, contact your doctor. Prescription and over-the-counter medications should not be overused. Maintaining a healthy lifestyle — eating properly, exercising, and sleeping seven to eight hours a night — is key to avoiding many health problems, including headaches.
For more information on headaches, headache relief or headache prevention, talk to your doctor.