Is Chronic Headache Affecting Your Work?
Headaches are not life-threatening but they can affect the quality of life drastically. In most cases, people tend to suffer from headache from time to time. According to the WHO, nearly 30% of adults globally are affected by chronic headaches and 1.7 – 4% experience headaches on 15 or more days every month.
Although headaches don’t pose as a serious illness in the first impression, it can drain the productivity and happiness of the sufferer. Many may face depression and short term loss of memory depending on the severity of the headache they are suffering from. Also, chronic headaches can also affect the personality and mental function in many. A severe headache can create stiff neck, visual disturbance, weakness, numbness etc. All these will impact the work-life thereby harming the day-to-day activities.
Migraine is one of the common forms of disabling chronic headache disorder, presenting with recurrent attacks of headaches. During attacks, patients suffer from headaches which are moderate to severe in intensity, with nausea, vomiting and sensitivity to light and sound and are unable to carry on their routine work. Research shows that more than 70% of migraine sufferers experience impairment in interpersonal relationships, including work relationships.
Studies paint an alarming picture of the severity of migraine pain and the impact that it has on a person’s quality of life. Migraine is most prevalent among people between the age group of 25 and 55, the time of life when most people are at their economic peak and in the midst of raising their families
Unfortunately, not many people know that chronic headache is a treatable condition and they need not suffer in silence and darkness. With the right medical support and a slight modification in lifestyle, the individual can live easily with prolonged headache-free days.
Ways to treat an attack of Headache
The method of treatment depends on the severity of the attack of headache, the time it takes to peak and patients’ expectations. Usually, simple analgesics help in the majority of patients and these agents are tried first. If a patient’s headache is severe and he requires instant relief, a specific class of agents called as triptans can be used.
Other general methods/ advice when used which will help in reducing the attack frequency are
1) Avoiding known triggers – This one is probably the best-known remedy for chronic headaches. Every individual who suffers has their own set of specific triggers, which initiates a headache. By accurately knowing these triggers and avoiding them one can prevent the attacks.
2) Staying hydrated – Dehydration is one of the major reasons for a headache. Drinking ample amount of fluids, especially water is beneficial in avoiding a chronic headache due to dehydration.
3) Stop popping headache pills – The first thing people do when they get a headache is pop a headache pill without medical supervisions. Medication overuse is one of the reasons for headache and limiting the intake of pills to cure headache can in fact help in reducing the frequency of chronic headache.
4) Limit stress and get enough rest/sleep – Stress is a number one cause of most of the modern-day disorders and is also considered one of the strong triggers for chronic headache. If you often suffer from a headache due to stress and overwork, then try techniques that will help you cope up with stress such as yoga, breathing exercises, meditation etc. getting adequate and good quality sleep, eating nutrient-rich food on time and limiting stress will go a long way in treating chronic headaches.
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