Millions and millions of us suffer from headaches, some minor, and some major.
They range from everyday tension headaches to migraines – indeed some estimate that nearly 30 million Americans suffer from migraines, a condition made more likely in people whose parents also suffered from them.
The ache that pains, discomforts, annoys and tortures sufferers will be in focus from June 6-12 as the National Headache Foundation sponsors National Headache Awareness Week.
While there is one week, there are more types of headaches than that – four by most counts:
- Tension headache, coming from stress or fatigue, but which can also be attributed to other physical or emotional issues.
- Migraines, which cause pain on one of both sides of the head, and sometimes an upset stomach or vision problems. Women suffer these more than men.
- Cluster headaches, so called because they tend to come and go in a day. There is also evidence that they can come as a result of high blood pressure.
- Hormone headaches, which are peculiar to women, and tend to be associated with menstrual or pre-menstrual situations, pregnancy or oral contraceptives.
A rule of thumb is when you get a headache three or more times a month.
Some other symptoms that should prompt a visit to the doctor include a headache that brings with it confusion, dizziness, shortness of breath, loss of vision, slurred speech and numbness.
You should see a doctor promptly too if you get a sudden, severe headache along with a stiff neck, or a fever or convulsions. Also, see a doctor promptly if you suffer convulsions, or you lose consciousness, or you develop a headache after you get hit on the head.
There are many types of treatment for headaches and migraines, including drugs, stress reduction, diet changes and exercise.
Here are some lifestyle changes that may help:
- If you know that certain foods prompt headaches, avoid them.
- Take breaks during the day to keep stress in check.
- Don’t skip meals.
- Get regular aerobic exercise.
- Go to sleep! It’s best if you do that by going to bed and waking up at about the same times each day.
Migraines can be triggered by some foods, or by other things, like the weather, or stress, or hormonal changes. Keeping a diary is a good way to figure out what prompts migraines in you, and then you can talk to your doctor about it.
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