Headaches: Frequently Asked Questions

• Should I worry if I suffer from tension headaches?
• Who is most likely to suffer from tension headaches?
• How can I prevent chronic cases, or at least make them more bearable?
• At what stage should a child’s headache be treated by a doctor?
• How can I identify what type of headache I have myself?
• How important is nutrition in the prevention of headaches?
• How does Sleep affect headaches?
• I have heard that headaches are commonly associated with Sinustitus. To what extent is this true?
• What alternative treatments are available to me as a headache sufferer?
• I have heard that a common cause of headaches is eyestrain. Why does it occur?
• I often suffer a great deal of pain in one shoulder in addition to my headache. Is there a direct connection?

You must note that the majority of tension headaches are not detrimental to your health, unless they intensify. You must consult your doctor if:

• Your headaches worsen
• Your headaches and severe and very frequent
• You suffer from visual disruption e.g. lines, dots etc
• Your headache is a result of a head injury

Between 30%-80% of the adult population in the US alone suffer from tension headaches, and exactly 3% suffer from serious or chronic tension headaches on a daily basis. It has been proven that women are twice as likely to become sufferers.

Preventive treatments include painkillers but if these are not affective, anti-depressants may be prescribed along with a host of other medications to put a stop to the pain. Treatments that do not involve medications are the Cefaly Medical Device, which use electric pulses that relax the nerves generating pain in your head.

You must be aware that medications will not cure headaches completely, they are merely utilised to reduce pain. After a period of time, certain medicines may lose their effectiveness. As well as this, you must also consider the fact certain medications will come with side effects. You must discuss any course of medication in detail with your doctor.

It is also crucial to recognise that medications are not direct substitutions for stress management methods.

Symptoms are always best treated during early stages.

If a particular episode is particularly distracting and painful for a child, then medical advice should be sought. A child suffering from regular and daily headaches find that their academic achievements will be affected, and may even lead to depressive moods and anxiety.

It is imperative that more serious headaches are treated and analysed by professionals as they may be related to an infection of the central nervous system, a range of toxins or hypocephalus.

It is tricky to diagnose it for yourself. Previous cases have shown that despite whether the headache is the result of sinus, jaw, tension or stress disorders, or even trigger points within the neck area, the sufferer will experience the same painful sensations. 90% of headaches are initially muscle related.

Nutrition is crucial in the treatment of headaches. What we put into our bodies will have a direct effect upon our health. ‘Whole Foods’ like grain bread and brown rice are good for the body, opposed to processed foods such as white flour and rice. Refined sugars are perhaps the worst of the processed foods and many people will suffer fewer attacks if such foods are cut out of their diet.

Sleep deprivation will inevitably lead to fatigue and tiredness and an increased level of headache pains. A stark lack of sleep will intensify any effects of stress. Medication can be prescribed in order to combat sleep problems, which will in turn benefit sufferers.

Headaches often associated with Sinusitis. However it should be noted that it is only one of many problems commonly accredited as a cause of headaches. It becomes difficult to identify an exact source for such attacks as they are often caused by Sinusitis, but equally are often not.

On the whole, patients with sinus headaches will also suffer from other symptoms. Examples include the congestion of nasal passages, which can be improved with appropriate medication. The headaches will often be just over the infected sinus areas. The pain is actually caused by a buildup of air, pus and mucus within the obstructed sinus.

However non-sinus headaches will also occur in the same places, but will not be consorted by nasal discomfort. The fact a particular sufferer may experience sinus pains does not imply that they have a sinus disorder.

There are a host of alternative treatments available to you including:

• Aromatherapy – The use of essential oils, taken from flowers, fruits, leaves, stems and roots of flowers, shrubs and trees attributed with therapeutic benefits.
• Chiropractic - The name hails from the Greek words ‘Cheiro’ and Praktikos’. Cheiro is Greek for ‘hand’ and Praktikos means ‘done by’. Therein lies the name that literally means ‘done by hand’. The method is a gentle manipulation of muscles and joints in order to aid and promote good health, and in turn reduce painful episodes.
• Physiotherapy- treats a host of physical injury, disease and dysfunction through the manipulation of the in order to repair itself through more efficient movement.

When we relax, our eyes focus on a distance. However in order to read or watch the television we unconsciously utilize our eye muscles. The muscle inside will contract and focus the lens. The muscle will continue to work this way for as long as need it to. However the muscle will eventually tire, thus causing eye strain. This can lead to pains above the eye.

There certainly is a connection. You may be experiencing what is known as pain referral. This is essential where one pain will shift or affect another part of the body. So in essence a tightened shoulder muscle may have a knock on effect on the headaches. If this is the case you must consult your doctor.