HealthWatch: June 2008

Headache Awareness

The month of June is dedicated to headache awareness.  More than 45 million Americans suffer from chronic, recurring headaches and, of these, 28 million Americans suffer from migraines.  Women make up around 70% of headache sufferers.  Headaches are also the most common cause of missed days at work and school.

Headache pain is caused by interacting signals between the brain, blood vessels and surrounding nerves; specific nerves of the blood vessels and muscles are activated and send pain signals to the brain.  Headaches, especially migraines, seem to be hereditary.  They can be triggered by stress, strong odors, exposure to specific allergens, certain foods, pollution, noise, lighting and weather changes.

The first step in treating headaches is to consult your family physician, who can help evaluate the causes and design a treatment plan.  The proper treatment will depend on several factors, including the type and frequency of the headache.  Treatment could include education, counseling, stress management, biofeedback, and medications.

Sources: The Cleveland Clinic, The National Headache Foundation

Resources

Local
Cleveland Clinic
University Hospitals

National
National Headache Foundation