What can you do about your headaches?
An assortment of headache treatment options exist. You'll need to work with your physician to determine which is most helpful for you. Often keeping a food diary can help you determine if a certain food may be causing your headache. Maintaining a regular sleep schedule is helpful in avoidance of headaches. Too much or too little sleep can contribute to headaches.OTC medications such as aspirin, acetominophen, ibuprofen, or naproxen sodium are the treatment of choice for most tension headaches. You must follow proper dosing instructions when using any pain medication so that it's not taken too often. Overdose of some OTC medications permanently damage your liver and overuse of such medications can lead to rebound headaches.
Biofeedback therapy is many times helpful for reducing headaches and stress by helping you learn to relax. Exercise and avoidance of stressful situations and anxiety will often reduce the number of headaches you experience. Walking is a simple exercise which any one who is ambulatory can do and is a great overall symptom reducer which has the added benefit of reducing your risk for many diseases including heart disease.
If you are experiencing migraines, your physician may prescribe a medication to take before your headache becomes intense. You can discuss these medications with your physician to determine if they are suitable for you.
When to seek professional treatment
It's important that all headaches be properly diagnosed. If you've never consulted your physician about your headaches, talk to him to be sure that your chronic headaches are not serious.Your doctor will take a detailed medical history and ask you many important questions. No tests can diagnose migraine headaches so your answers are important. It will help your physician diagnose your headache if you'll keep a headache diary or journal prior to your appointment.
If you are over 50 and you suddenly begin to experience headaches when you never have before, it's especially important to see your physician. Migraine headaches can occur as early as infancy. But most commonly, onset occurs between the age of 5 to 50, sudden onset of headaches after age 50, may indicate a serious illness.
You should also see your physician if you are experiencing a headache which lasts for longer than a day or one that's not helped by over the counter medications. If you're a regular headache sufferer and you experience any difference in your headache, be sure to consult your physician immediately.
