Tu page rn to how yo 3 and s ee prize b u can win a y a nsw ering as triv ia qimple uestion : What co ld phra s e...
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Facing headaches head on Not all headaches are the same, but they all need the right treatment. Learn more about a favorite excuse for taking a sick leave.
Prevent the pain
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f there’s anything that can destroy a supposedly productive work day or a perfectly wonderful vacation, it’s an unforgiving headache. Definitely an experience shared by people all over the world, headache is one of the most common physical complaints.
What goes on inside our skull that makes headaches so painful anyway? Although some people may think that the brain is the source of all headache pain, the truth is that the brain cannot feel pain! Headache pain occurs in the tissues covering the brain, and in the muscles and blood vessels in
the head and neck. For instance, when nerves in the muscles or blood vessels are activated, they send pain signals to the brain. Inflammatory substances also contribute to the pain. It’s not always clear when or why pain signals are activated.
Try to identify what triggers your migraine so you can help prevent the onset of pain. Triggers differ from person to person. Examples of triggers include stress, sleep disturbances, fasting, hormones, too much physical activity, bright lights, odors, smoke, alcohol, some kinds of cheese, chocolate, monosodium glutamate, nitrites, aspartame and caffeine. [More about migraines on page 2.]
A Slice of Orange is a newsletter designed to help clarify basic health information and offer juicy tips on uplifting your health.
Editorial team Alvin Delfin Christine Llenes Orange de Guzman, MD
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Types of headaches Over a hundred headache categories have been identified, and enumerating them here would be enough to give you, well, a headache. To make things simple, headaches can be classified into primary and secondary headaches. 1. Primary headaches are those not caused by other diseases. • Tension headaches This kind is the most common type of headache; tension headaches, also called chronic daily headaches, are caused by muscle contraction and cause mild to moderate pain. Having a tension headache is like having a tight band encircling the head, and the pain is bilateral (felt on both sides of the head). Tension headaches may be caused by eyestrain, neck strain, emotional stress, alcohol use, hunger, changes in sleep patterns, depression, etc. • Migraine headaches Migraine pain is often moderate to severe, and is characterized by extreme pounding or throbbing pain in the forehead, eye or back of the head. Migraines usually involve just one side of the head and can last from hours to days. Migraines are related to blood vessel contractions and dilations. These excruciating headaches are often accompanied by symptoms such as sensitivity to light or sound, blurred vision, nausea or vomiting, or even loss of appetite and abdominal pain. Many migraines are preceded by an aura, which is like a warning of an impending attack. Examples of auras include: seeing flashing lights; having a
blind spot; abnormal tastes or smells; and so on. • Cluster headaches These headaches are called such because they occur during a period of time, that is, they occur a few times a day for weeks to months. Cluster periods are usually separated by pain-free periods of months or years. Cluster headaches are the least common type of primary headache, and occur more often in males. These headaches can be very severe and debilitating – they are characterized as a burning, sharp, throbbing or constant pain in one eye. 2. Secondary headaches are caused by another disease, which can be minor or life-threatening. Some causes of these headaches include: • Tumors in the brain • Hematomas, which occur when blood vessels under or outside the covering of the brain rupture due to a fall or head trauma • Infections, such as meningitis • Strokes, which occur when the arteries of the brain are blocked by blood clots or when the blood vessels in the brain rupture • Glaucoma, the sudden elevation of pressure inside the eyes • Fever or infections of the sinuses (sinusitis), ear (otitis) or teeth • Certain medications for treating blood pressure or depression, or birth control pills • Overuse of pain relievers
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One more thing to blame PMS for!
Women are more likely than men to experience headaches. Why? The female hormones estrogen and progesterone may affect headache-related chemicals in the brain. In fact, headache is a common symptom of premenstrual syndrome (PMS). The good news is nonprescription pain meds such as NSAIDs can treat most menstrual headaches.
Massage can help relieve headache pain because it eases away muscle tension. Try rubbing your temples, scalp, neck and shoulders with your fingertips. A hot shower may help too.
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to product labels) are enough to combat minor tension or migraine headaches. OTC analgesics include paracetamol (also called acetaminophen) and NSAIDs (short for nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs), such as ibuprofen and naproxen. You’ll need to be aware of the side effects of each drug before using any. If you find an OTC drug that works for you, try to stick to it. However, don’t overuse analgesics – this can lead to development of tolerance to the drug and rebound headache, which is what you were trying to treat in the first place.
Diagnosing headaches
Some minor headaches are easily treated by pain relievers or even just a nap, but constant or frequent headaches should be diagnosed properly. Visit your family doctor or neurologist for an accurate evaluation. Your doctor will ask you many questions about the nature of your head pain, so try to be as descriptive and detailed as possible. A physical and neurologic exam will also be conducted. If your doctor cannot easily identify the cause of your headache, further tests such as a CT scan or MRI may be necessary.
Treating the pain
Your doctor should be able to recommend an effective treatment for your headaches. Many over-the-counter (OTC) pain relievers or analgesics when used properly (according
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• Exercise regularly but in moderation. Your body releases certain chemicals during physical activity that block pain signals to your brain. • Get enough sleep. Try to maintain a regular sleep pattern. • Keep stress under control. Some tips for doing this include: simplifying your life; managing time wisely; taking breaks when you need them; staying positive and letting go of the things you can’t change.
Moderate or severe migraine and cluster headaches may be treated using meds that counteract the cause of headaches, such as the dilation of blood vessels in the head. Usually, these drugs should be taken when the headache is just beginning or when the aura of migraines is experienced. Some cluster headache and migraine sufferers may be prescribed drugs to be taken regularly (even during headache-free days) for reducing the frequency and duration of headaches when they do occur. Ask your doctor to explain what each medicine is for. Not all headaches need drugs, though. Headache management can include counseling, stress management or other lifestyle changes.
Back to the basics
As with preventing other common diseases, check your lifestyle and make healthy changes to keep yourself as pain-free as possible. • Eat healthy foods and don’t starve yourself.
Some headaches are caused by more serious conditions such as stroke. Do not hesitate to seek emergency care if your headache is characterized by any of the following: • Occurs suddenly and is severe in pain intensity (i.e., the worst headache of your life) • Occurs together with a fever, stiff neck, nausea, vomiting, confusion, seizure, double vision, weakness, numbness or difficulty speaking or understanding • Occurs after a head injury or fall • Worsens despite home treatment
A slice of trivia What cold phrase (B_____ F_____) is another term for ‘ice cream headache’, or the intense but shortlived head pain that occurs after eating or drinking a frozen treat? Freshen up on your researching skills, e-mail us the answer at orange@activelink-consult.com and win a prize!
We’ll include the answer in the next issue of A Slice of Orange.
From those with the correct answer, 10 people will be randomly chosen to win a special gift pack from ActiveLink.
What E word refers to the science of designing and arranging things so people can use or interact with them
Answer to last issue’s question:
efficiently and safely? Applying this science to the workplace helps relieve eyestrain and CVS. Ergonomics makes sure that the environment in which people work is optimal for work and other activities. The goal of ergonomics is to make sure people are safe,
Looking to enhance your corporate healthcare benefits? E-mail us at benefits@activelink-consult.com. The information in this newsletter is not intended as a substitute for professional medical care. Consult a doctor for all matters relating to your health, particularly for symptoms that may require diagnosis or medical attention. © 2008 ActiveLink
Benefits Made Better
ActiveLink 104 VA Rufino Street, Legaspi Village, Makati City, 1229 Philippines T: +632 817 4606 / 817 7900 www.activelink-consult.com
comfortable and not prone to injury.
The Orange wants to he ar from you! Dying to ask us your health related questio ns? Itching to share your pe rsonal health tips? Want to sugg est topics for future issues? Feel free to contac t us. You can e-m ail our team at orange@activ elink-consult.c om.