HEALTH ruptures with bleeding in or around the brain, medications to treat other disorders, meningitis, (inflammation of the membranes and fluid surrounding your brain and spinal cord) • Spinal headaches (caused by low pressure or volume of cerebrospinal fluid, possibly the result of spontaneous cerebrospinal fluid leak, spinal tap or spinal anesthesia) • Thunderclap headaches (a group of disorders that involves sudden, severe headaches with multiple causes) Meanwhile Tylenol.com says that with so much going on, it can be difficult to avoid headaches, but there are a few common and unexpected things you can learn to avoid and prevent pain in the future. Tylenol.com also lists 10 most common headache triggers as: food sensitivities, which could include, caffeine, chocolate, alcohol, cheese and aspartame among others. Hormones like estrogen drops, posture, lack of exercise, some medications. Your eating and sleeping patterns also have to be right. You should try to have calming and gentle music. Also avoid glare, from the sun, computers, overhead lights, etc, Avoid anxiety as stress can take a toll on you. <strong>The</strong>y advise that you breathe, relax and take a stroll. Most importantly, it is important to know what works for you and what does not. This can help you avoid headaches in the future. In order to determine what works for you, you need to experiment. Who is at Risk? MeMD explains that tension headaches are caused by muscle contractions brought on by a variety of factors, especially stress, anxiety and depression. Other variables include excessive alcohol, caffeine or tobacco use, cold or flu, nasal or sinus congestion and strained eyes. Risk factors for migraines include family history, age, gender (women are more likely to be migraine sufferers) and hormonal variations. Women are also more likely to suffer tension headaches than men. While cluster headaches affect only a small percentage of the population, most cluster-headache sufferers are men, and smoking, alcohol use and specific foods can trigger a cluster headache. How often do headaches occur? Pub med reveals that 14.2% of US adults 18 or older reported having migraine or severe headache in the previous 3 months in the 2012 NHIS. <strong>The</strong> overall age-adjusted 3-month prevalence of migraine in females was 19.1% and in males 9.0%, but varied substantially depending on age. <strong>The</strong> prevalence of migraine was highest in females 18-44, where the 3-month prevalence of migraine or severe headache was 23.5%. <strong>The</strong> 3-month prevalence of migraine or severe headache has remained relatively stable over the period of 2005- 2012, with an average prevalence of 20.2% in females, 9.4% in males, and 14.9% overall [corrected].During this time, the average female to male sex ratio for migraine or severe headache was 2.17. Key facts from WHO • Headache disorders are among the most common disorders of the nervous system. • It has been estimated that almost half of the adult population have had a headache at least once within the last year. • Headache disorders, which are characterized by recurrent headache, are associated with personal and societal burdens of pain, disability, damaged quality of life, and financial cost. • Worldwide, a minority of people with headache disorders are diagnosed appropriately by a healthcare provider. • Headache has been underestimated, underrecognized and undertreated throughout the world. To deal with headache, Wiki advises the following; Health Tips Know when to seek medical assistance immediately; Use caffeine carefully - it can be a double-edged sword; Drink plenty of water; Find a quiet, dark place to take a break; Practice progressive muscle relaxation; Use a cool compress; massage your face and scalp; Massage your neck and shoulders; Do neck exercises; Use acupressure techniques; Practice relaxation techniques; Use breathing exercises; Get plenty of sleep. Having good “sleep hygiene” getting plenty of good quality sleep can help you feel better generally and can reduce headache occurrences. Adults should get at least 7-8 hours of sleep each night. If you have trouble sleeping, try some of the following techniques: Limit your “screen time” before bed, only use your bed for sleep and intimacy, limit caffeine consumption in the later part of the day and begin dimming the lights and giving yourself time to “wind down” before preparing for bed. Change your diet; although this won’t alleviate your headache straight away, making dietary changes in the longer term can potentially remove a source of headaches for you in the future. If you don’t know where to begin, see your doctor or a dietician/nutritionist. Quit smoking, Prevent an allergy or food-induced headache by knowing your triggers. Prevent other headaches by changing your personal care routine. 42 JULY - AUGUST <strong>2016</strong>
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