Did You Know?

Fact: Tension-type headaches affect over 80% of women and around 65% of men, and up to one in 20 adults experience a headache everyday or almost everyday! (World Health Organization, 2005).

Details: The vast majority of headaches can be successfully managed. Keys to effectively reducing headaches include the following:

1. Go to bed and get up at regular times each day and obtain an adequate amount of sleep nightly
2. Avoid smoking and excessive use of alcohol
3. Limit caffeine consumption since caffeine withdrawal may cause headaches
4. Obtain a moderate amount of exercise weekly (three to five times a week)
5. Participate in relaxation programs to reduce stress levels
6. Avoid excessive restriction of food intake
7. Drink plenty of water
8. Avoid long-term excessive use of medications to treat headaches since this may result in medication-overuse headaches
9. In may be appropriate to consider seeking medical evaluation and treatment in some cases

Be active: June 6th through June 12th is National Headache Awareness Week.

Links: American Headache Society: http://www.americanheadachesociety.org/

World Health Organization: http://www.who.int/en/

National Headache Foundation: http://www.headaches.org/