Don't Let a Headache Keep You Down
Millions of people visit their doctor for relief from common
headaches. In fact, this is possibly the most prevalent reason
for people to see their doctors. Headaches come in a variety of
types, intensity, and duration. Some are hormonally driven for
women in relationship to their monthly cycles. Other types of
headache pain may stem from sinus problems, medication use, or
even food allergies. Stress, caffeine, and alcohol consumption
may trigger head pain. Your head may ache on one or both sides,
at the crown, or even around the neck and shoulder areas. There
is no single source of headache pain, and they may even occur in
clusters and form migraine patterns, including blurred vision,
odd scents, and dizziness.
So what can a person do for a bad headache? The best thing is to
prevent one, if possible. Start by keeping a small diary of when
your headaches come, the circumstances surrounding them, and how
long they last. Take note also of the things that make them seem
better or worse, along with any treatment you use that is
successful. Some headaches are illness-borne and thus cannot be
avoided, but many are due to lifestyle issues that can be
successfully managed.
For example, if your diary suggests that you often get a
headache after eating Chinese food, you might be sensitive to
MSG, a common ingredient found in Chinese dishes that sometimes
causes headaches or other disturbances in certain individuals.
Or, if you experience a headache upon arising certain times of
the year, especially when sleeping with the windows open, you
may have a sinus-related condition that will benefit from closed
windows or medication.
If stress is causing headaches, learn what your triggers are and
take steps to avoid them. It may be that dealing with an
argumentative coworker often brings on one of your spells. Take
steps to avoid that person or play down the conflict. When the
opportunity comes up, ask for a transfer to another department.
Take similar steps to offset stressful situations in your life
that can be downplayed in ways like this.
Your doctor may be able to recommend lifestyle changes that may
reduce the frequency or intensity of your discomfort. For
example, daily exercise may improve circulation and reduce
stress, thereby helping to prevent headache pain. Eating
healthier foods that contain few preservatives is another common
recommendation that seems to help a lot of people. Keeping a
journal and writing about negative events several times a week
keeps you from bottling them up where they can play havoc with
your nerve impulses and possibly contribute to the development
of headaches.
When you take a proactive stance in identifying headache sources
and learning how to head them off, you will soon feel better and
experience fewer symptoms. Ask your doctor for more information
on preventing or reducing headache pain.