Headache Sufferers Advised to Visit Their Physician

This week is National Headache Awareness Week

A headache is among the most common pain complaints seen today in primary care doctors' offices, with as many as 45 million people suffering from headaches nationwide, according to national research.

But the days of doing little more than taking an over-the-counter pain medication are gone, according to medical experts.

"The myth that you just have to live with headaches is simply no longer true," said Dr. Jan Wnek, medical director at Portland, Maine-based Martin's Point Health Care. "There are many remedies available, from prevention techniques to new medicines that help millions."

According to Dr. Wnek, anyone who suffers from sudden or continuous headaches should seek medical attention. "Your doctor can help you decide what type of headache you suffer from - migraine, cluster, sinus, tension or other types, and what you should do about it," she said.

Headache is the result of pain signals caused by interactions between the brain, blood vessels, and surrounding nerves, she said. The pain comes from activated nerves surrounding the skull, blood vessels, and head muscles. Activation of specific nerves in the head sends pain signals to the brain that are interpreted as a "headache."

The American Council for Headache Education says that there are two different categories for headaches: primary and secondary. Primary headache is an actual clinical condition and not a symptom of or caused by another disorder. Primary headaches include migraine, tension-type headache, and cluster headache. Secondary headaches are caused by other medical conditions, such as sinus disease, allergies, dental disorders, head injury, or brain tumors.

The council also says that headaches can be triggered or made more severe when sufferers are exposed to specific environmental factors, such as strong odors like cigarette smoke or perfume. Stress, lighting and weather changes are other environmental factors.

Although all headaches are associated with pain, they differ considerably in severity, frequency, and disability. Some sufferers may have severe pain only once each year, while others may have mild pain with severe nausea twice each month.

For that reason, it is essential that the treatment strategy is tailored to meet the individual's needs. Another reason to individualize treatment is the risk of coexisting medical conditions, such as heart disease, depression, anxiety, and seizure disorder. For example, patients with asthma should not take a headache medication that might make their asthma worse or interact with their asthma medications.

Here are some examples of lifestyle changes that may improve headache management:
- Diet: Eat a healthy, balanced diet at regular times. Long periods of fasting, and dramatic swings in blood sugar levels, may cause an increase in headaches. Limit caffeine and smoking.
- Exercise: Regular exercise is an important part of reducing headaches and maintaining a healthy lifestyle.
- Sleep: Fatigue and sleep deprivation may lead to an increase in headaches. Excessive sleep may trigger headaches. A change in sleep pattern can also prompt headaches (vacation migraine).
- Calendars: Track the frequency and severity of headaches by keeping a calendar. This will help monitor lifestyle factors that contribute to headaches.

For more information on headaches, go to the following links online:
- http://www.achenet.org (American Council for Headache Education (ACHE)
- http://www.headaches.org (National Headache Foundation)

Martin's Point, with headquarters in Portland at 331 Veranda St., is a not-for-profit health care organization with facilities in Portland, Brunswick and Windham, Maine, and in Portsmouth, N.H. It has a staff of more than 300 health care professionals and serves 50,000 patients under all major health plans and insurance, including HealthSource, Blue Cross and Blue Shield, Harvard Community Health Plan, Aetna, Maine Partners, Cigna, Anthem, Champus and Tricare plans.

Established in 1981, Martin's Point serves patients in the areas of family practice, internal medicine, pediatrics, surgery, radiology, cardiology, mammography and other fields. For additional information, visit online at http://www.martinspoint.org or call the health education center at 828-2497 or 1-800-260-6681.

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