Headaches & Prevention

Headaches ! ! !

Headache is a term used to describe aching or pain that occurs in one or more areas of the head, face, mouth, or neck. Headache can be chronic, recurrent, or occasional. The pain can be mild or severe enough to disrupt daily activities. Headaches involve the network of nerve fibers in the tissues, muscles, and blood vessels located in the head and at the base of the skull.

 
   Types of Headaches

Primary headache accounts for about 90% of all headaches. There are four types of primary headache:

• Sinus headache

• Cluster headache

• Tension headache

• Migraine headache

 Sinus headache is the result of trapped or congestion mucus building up in the para-nasal sinus cavities; this results in pain and pressure felt around the eyes, temple, cheeks, upper teeth and forehead regions.

Cluster headaches occur daily over a period of weeks, sometimes months. They may disappear and then recur during the same season in the following year.

Secondary headache is associated with an underlying condition such as cardiovascular disease, head trauma, infection, tumor, and metabolic disorder (e.g., diabetes, thyroid disease). Head pain also can result from syndromes involving the eyes, ears, neck, teeth, or sinuses. In these cases, the underlying condition must be diagnosed and treated. Also, certain types of medication produce headache as a side effect.

Tension headache is the most common type of primary headache. Episodes usually begin in middle age and are often associated with the stresses, anxiety, and depression that can develop during these years.

Migraines and other types of headache - such as tension headache and sinus headache - are painful and can rob you of quality of life. Migraines are common and according to the NHS affect one in four women and one in 12 men in the UK. Migraine symptoms include a pounding headache, nausea, vomiting, and light sensitivity. Headache remedies include various types of pain killers. Migraine treatments may also include anti-sickness drugs and medications to prevent or stop headaches. 

Headaches During Pregnancy! 

An increase in headaches during the first trimester is believed to be caused by the surge of hormones along with an increase in the blood volume circulating throughout your body. These headaches may be further aggravated by stress, poor posture or changes in your vision. Other causes of headaches during pregnancy may involve one or more of the following:

Lack of sleep

Low blood sugar

Dehydration

Caffeine withdrawal

Stress (too many changes)

Women who have regular migraine headaches may discover that they experience fewer migraines during pregnancy; however, some women may encounter the same number or even more migraine headaches. If you are pregnant, it is important to talk to your health care provider about any medications that you may be taking for headaches.

Headaches during the third trimester tend to be related more to poor posture and tension from carrying extra weight. Headaches during the third trimester may also be caused by a condition called per-Eclampsia, which is high blood pressure during pregnancy.

Prevention 

 Common Triggers

The following are common triggers for headaches and migraines, and many are within your control: 

Stress

Drinking alcohol, and red wine in particular

Sensory overload — exposure to lights that are too bright, sounds that are too loud, or smells that are overpowering

Dehydration — not drinking enough water

Too much sleep or not enough sleep

Exercising too rigorously

Hormonal changes

Not eating frequently enough

Smoking

Straining your eyes reading or sitting at a computer

A difference in your caffeine intake — just skipping your morning cup for one day can cause a caffeine-withdrawal headache

Food additives or naturally-occurring substances, including nitrates in processed meats, MSG in fast food and Chinese food, tyramine found in certain aged cheeses and soy-based foods, and the artificial sweetener aspartame

 

Headache Prevention

Keeping a Diary

Knowing your headache triggers enables you to start your own headache prevention program. Keeping a diary will help you figure out which of the many possible headache triggers affects you personally. In your headache diary, you should record each day: 

All foods you eat

All beverages you drink

Medicines you take

What time you wake up and go to bed

All exercise and any other physical activities you undertake

 

Headache Prevention

Easy Techniques

Practicing these easy steps will help you avoid many common headache triggers:

Maintain good posture, and move around during the day.

Make sure your neck isn't remaining stiff and that you're moving it around if you're doing desk work, says Green. Also, take your eyes away from the computer every so often to avoid eyestrain.

Get the right pillows. "People should be careful to evaluate their pillows. A lot of people should travel with their [home] pillow because we don't often like changes in pillows," says Green.

Stay consistent. Keep a regular schedule, and don't greatly vary your diet or your waking, sleeping, and exercise routines.

Get an appropriate amount of sleep. Either too much or too little shuteye can leave your head pounding, so make sure you get a steady eight hours each night.

Stick to a healthy diet and exercise regimen. Healthy foods and regular exercise help ward off headaches. Never skip meals, and have a small, healthy snack between meals so that you don't get too hungry.

Drink water. Dehydration can lead to headache, so drink plenty of water throughout the day.

Other Relaxation Techniques. These include deep breathing, yoga, meditation and progressive muscle relaxation, which is accomplished by tensing one muscle at a time, and then completely releasing the tension, until every muscle in your body is relaxed. You can learn relaxation techniques in special classes or at home using books or tapes.