Page 6 - Reedley Exponent 3-7-19 E-edition

Recently I was in- volved in a discussion about headaches with several residents and sta here at Sierra View Homes Retire- ment Community. We were trying to understand why headaches happen, their origin and why are some extremely painful.
e de nition of a headache is “a pain in the head.” It can be a stand- alone illness or it can accompany a disease or a condition. Headaches are the most common com- plaint in doctors’ o ces. Approximately 45 million Americans have frequent severe headaches that can disrupt their life. Recent studies estimated that 7
in 10 people have a least one headache each year. Headaches are so common most people consider them a normal part of living. Headaches can be mild with little discomfort or they can be severe making
By Ro Linscheid
panied by other symptoms such as confusion and/or muscle weakness.
ere are di erent theories as to why we get headaches. Dr. Fuhrman, author of “Eat for Health,” thinks that headaches hap- pen when the body is trying to get rid of toxins in the central nervous system. He believes migraines could
be the result of sensitivity to certain types of food or drugs, too much sleep or too little sleep, and the list goes on. He suggests the chronic migraine su erer should eliminate foods such as dairy products, processed foods, alcohol and food additives as these are often found to trigger the mi- graine headache.
e most common recommendations for treat- ing headaches are rest and pain- relief medication. However, it is important to follow the advice of your
doctor because overusing pain-relief medication can lead to rebound headaches. e use of medication, even in quantities as low as ten aspirin tablets per week, can cause chronic daily head- ache syndrome also known as rebound headaches.
ere are things you can do that may ease the pain. Some suggestions are eating regular meals full of fresh none-processed food, avoid situations that are stressful, exercise regularly, and routinely get enough rest. If your headache per- sists, see your doctor to nd out if the headache could be a symptom of something else going on in your body.
Headaches are our body’s way of telling us something is not right. ey do not have to be part of our everyday life. When you feel headache pain, I encourage you to look at your day to see if you can determine what might have
it di cult to concentrate at work and perform other daily activities.
e term headache encompasses many di erent things. e International Headache Society (IHS) categorizes headaches into two categories: primary
and secondary headaches depending on what causes them.
Primary headaches
are caused by problems with the structures in the head that are pain-sensitive. ese structures include
the blood vessels, muscles, and nerves of the head and neck, as well as chemi-
cal activity taking place
in the brain. Migraines,
Now What?
cluster headaches, and ten- sion headaches are in this category. Some triggers of a primary headache are stress, changes in sleep patterns, hormones, ca eine or alco- hol, smell, dehydration and changes in the weather to name a few.
Secondary headaches are symptoms of another condition that stimulates the pain sensitive nerves of the head. Some conditions that can cause a second- ary headache are anxiety, depression, dehydration, in- uenza, strokes, and blood clots. ese headaches are serious. See your doctor if the pain increases, or they last for days or is accom-
The Reedley Exponent A26 Thursday, March 7, 2019
Health &Fitness
Health &Fitness
Ouch, my head hurts!
caused the pain. If your pain is chronic, see your doctor to see if the pain is a symptom of some other health issue. Most impor- tantly, see your doctor if a headache is accompanied with drowsiness, fever, vomiting, facial numb- ness, slurred speech, muscle weakness, convulsions or confusion as these could be signs of a larger issue.
We did not come
to any conclusions in our conversation about head- aches. We agreed it is important to eat right, nd ways to relieve stress, and to get enough rest, which in turn controls headache pain. Living with a head- ache is not fun. I encourage you to take stock in when your headache starts and how severe it gets. Talk
to your doctor about your symptoms and follow your doctor’s advice to have pain-free days.
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