Health encyclopaedia

Health encyclopaedia - Alphabetical Topic List

Prevention of Headache

Tension-type headaches

• Keeping a diary may be useful to determine a pattern of triggers. Avoidance of these triggers may reduce the number of headaches. Triggers may include: certain foods, hunger, eye- strain, poor posture, stress, anxiety, anger etc.
• Breathing and relaxation exercises, or other coping strategies, may help in stressful situations and prevent a headache.
• Regular exercise often eases stress and tension and can reduce the frequency of headaches.
• Depression can cause frequent headaches. Medication for depression can be prescribed, so preventing or reducing the frequency of headaches.

Cluster headaches

Alcohol. Alcohol may trigger attacks during the period headaches occur, so avoidance of all alcohol during these periods will reduce headache frequency. During headache free periods, alcohol does not appear to trigger attacks.

Inhaled nitroglycerin, which causes the blood vessels to enlarge, can also provoke attacks. Avoidance at all times is advised.

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