Health Tip: Manage Your Migraines

Men and Women get at least one headache per year, according to recent studies. For most, headaches happen more often. We Americans deal with headaches with pills, but there are alternative methods.
 Types of headaches
Treatment depends on the type of headache you have. Here are the types of headaches:
Tension headaches: Resulting from muscle contractions with mild to moderate pain, sometimes progressing for hours, but going away.
Migraines: Severe headaches lasting for hours with throbbing pain, making sufferers sensitive to light and nauseous. Suffers may have trouble eating and sleeping.
Sinus headaches: Resulting from the swelling and stuffiness with the common cold.
Cluster headaches: Headaches that are usually centered around the eyes with severe, localized pain. They are chronic and recur often.
Natural headache relief
Headache sufferers are usually not comfortable taking over-the-counter information, so a lot of people seek natural remedies. Here are a few:
Stress management: Taking daily measures to relieve stress will cut down on the tension headaches. Pick a hobby, get more exercise, or meditate. These often take time to work, so do so.
Acupuncture: A mysterious (to scientists) way of treating pain, a certified practitioner can do either traditional or electrically stimulated acupuncture.
Diet and nutrition: Caffeine has been proven to contribute to headache pain. Artificial sweeteners, alcohol, and most preservatives can also contribute, so cut back on them all.
Massage: Professional massages can relieve tension, but even simple back rubs from a spouse can help.
Exercise: Increasing endorphins through exercise gives your body something to do and can be relief to a headache. Pent up energy often releases as a headache, so get up and do some exercise.
Herbal remedies: Several herbs (gingko biloba, kava kava, ginger, valerian, feverfew) are thought to have properties that fight headaches, so try them if you don’t’ want to take synthetic drugs.

Compliments of Kshamica Nimalasuriya MD, MPH
Preventive Medicine & Public Health