Did you know that...

• More than 45 million Americans get chronic, recurring headaches each year?

• Migraine sufferers lose more than 157 million workdays each year?

• Americans spend more than four billion dollars each year on over-the-counter pain relievers for headaches, including many that yield no relief?

• Seventy percent of all migraine sufferers are women?

• About 90 percent of chronic headache sufferers can be helped?

What is a headache?

When a person has a headache, several areas of the head can hurt, including a network of nerves that extends over the scalp and certain nerves in the face, mouth and throat. The muscles of the head and the blood vessels found along the surface and at the base of the brain are also sensitive to pain because they contain delicate nerve fibers. The bones of the skull and tissues of the brain itself never hurt because they lack pain sensitive nerve fibers. The ends of these pain-sensitive nerves can be stimulated by stress, muscular tension, dilated blood vessels and other triggers of headache.

Headaches are classified in two general categories: primary and secondary. Primary headache is a clinical condition and not a symptom of or caused by another disorder. These include tension-type, migraine and cluster headaches. Secondary headaches are caused by other medical conditions, such as sinus disease, allergies, dental disorders, head injury or brain tumors.

Physicians will often obtain a full medical history and may order a blood test to screen for thyroid disease, anemia, or infections or x-rays to rule out a brain tumor or blood clots. CTs, MRIs and EEGs may be recommended. An eye exam is usually performed to check for weakness in the eye muscle or unequal pupil size. Some scientists believe that fatigue, glaring or flickering lights, the weather and certain foods may trigger migraine headaches.

Tension headaches

Tension-type headaches are the most common type of headache. Most adults have had at least one. A tension-type headache may last minutes or days. The pain is often described as a steady pressing or tightening feeling, affecting both sides of the head. They may be the result of stressful personal or work situations, and may recur frequently if the stress is not reduced or stress management techniques are not put into use.

Tension-type headaches may be the result of increased tension or increased mental or physical stress. Common sources of tension and stress are excessive worry, all work–no play lifestyle, perfectionism and long periods of typing, reading or other concentration. They may also be the result of increased tension in the neck muscles from poor posture or injury to the spine.

When combined with stress, a poor diet, such as eating on the run or skipping meals, may also contribute to a tension-type headache. Repressed hostility, anger or frustration, or a sense of helplessness may also trigger headaches.

Many people find relatively quick relief for tension-type headaches with over-the-counter medications such as aspirin, Advil, Tylenol or other common pain relievers. But medication only relieves the pain. It is important to learn to address the cause.

Learning to relax is important. Take breaks during long periods of work to give your mind and body a chance to relax.

A hot shower or bath sometimes helps tense muscles to relax. If that is not convenient, a heat pack on the neck or an ice pack on the head may help. Some people have more success with a heat pack on both the neck and head.

Physical fatigue can make the body more susceptible to headaches, so getting plenty of sleep is important.

Being physically active, such as going for a walk, can often help, even during the headache.

Massage to the neck and head can also help by stimulating circulation and relaxing tense muscles.

Migraines

The exact cause of migraine headaches is unknown, but there is general agreement that a key element is blood flow changes in the brain. People who get migraine headaches seem to have blood vessels that overreact to various triggers.

Migraines afflict 25 to 30 million Americans, including up to 18 percent of all women and six percent of all men. The one thing that most migraines have in common is the inability of the sufferer to function normally. The pain is often described as throbbing, and may be accompanied by nausea and an increased sensitivity to light, noise and odors. About 15 percent of migraine sufferers get an “aura” before the headache begins. The aura may include vision or hearing hallucinations, and changes in smell, taste or touch. The aura may last up to 60 minutes, then fade as the headache begins.

Preventing migraine headaches

It’s important to understand that a person’s lifestyle has a significant impact on the severity and frequency of migraine attacks. Here are a few tips that are relatively simple to do.

Maintain regular sleep patterns. Go to sleep and wake up at about the same time each day, even on weekends.

Be physically active. Aerobic activity, such as brisk walking, jogging, bicycling and swimming, should be done at least 30 minutes a day most days of the week. This will help not only with headaches, but also with lowering risks for heart disease, stroke, obesity, and even some types of cancer.

• Do not skip meals, including breakfast.

• Limit stress by avoiding unnecessary conflicts and resolving disputes calmly. Take slow deep breaths. Think about pleasant, relaxing images.

• Avoid things that you know trigger a migraine headache for you.

• Maintain the medication treatment plan designed by you and your doctor.

Migraine medications

Preventive medications are taken daily to prevent the onset of a migraine. They are not intended to be used during an attack. The type of medication you should use depends on many factors, including co-existing conditions. Those include high blood pressure, diabetes, pregnancy, and many others.

Contributed by WinningHabits.com staff writer. WinningHabits provides content for GuideStone Financial Resources’ wellness Web site, www.LivingatYourBest.org.