The cause of headaches can be simple but they are a real issue in Ireland and Dr Ciara Kelly gives her top tips for both preventing and managing them.
From wardrobe space to stealing pens to leaving the immersion on, we learned what really gives Irish people the most annoyance in life earlier this week.
Of the 1,001 Irish adults surveyed for a new poll, almost one-fifth (19%) suffer from headaches on a weekly basis and 37% suffer once a month.
In addition to this, of those suffering from headaches on a regular basis, 20% identified their headaches as being severe in terms of the pain level.
In response to this, Nurofen Express has spoken with G.P., Dr. Ciara Kelly who gave her top tips for both preventing and managing headaches. Here’s what she had to say:
Prevention:
Hydration: Being dehydrated is one of the most common causes of headache. By drinking water throughout the day, you can avoid the risk of becoming dehydrated.
Consuming alcohol, particularly darker liquors, can also cause you to become dehydrated so it’s best to keep this to a minimum too if you’re trying to prevent a headache.
Sleep: Headaches are often an indicator that our body is weak due to a lack of sleep. Ensuring you are getting your recommended daily amount of sleep is a good way to prevent headaches.
Similarly, if you feel a headache coming on, taking a rest in a dark room can be a great way to fight it off.
Nutrition: Headaches are often caused from low blood sugar levels that we experience after not eating for a long period. By eating small but frequent meals you can maintain a healthy blood sugar level and therefore prevent a headache of this sort.
Food rich in magnesium, like spinach or pumpkin seeds, is particularly good for this.
Caffeine: While a little hit of caffeine is known to have pain killing properties, over consumption of caffeine can be a major trigger of headaches and migraines for some people.
If you’re reducing your caffeine intake it’s important to do so gradually as total withdrawal from caffeine can also cause headaches for long time coffee drinkers.
Management of headaches
1. Over-the-counter pain relief: A dose of ibuprofen or paracetamol can take the edge off. Earlier treatment is always better to address a headache, there are fast acting formulations available for patients to help get rid of their pain in shorter time
2. Use a cool compress: By placing something soft and cool over your forehead and eyes you can help the blood vessels constrict, which will reduce inflammation and may contribute to an easing of your headache pain. This works particularly well if the problem is concentrated in your temples or sinuses.
3. Massage your face, scalp, neck and shoulders: This can be particularly beneficial if you suffer from tension headaches as massage can help improve circulation and relieve tension, which in turn helps to relieve the pain of your headache.
4. Know when to seek the advice of a GP: Depending on your headache and the additional symptoms that you may be suffering from, it may be a sign of a more severe condition such as stroke or meningitis.
You should arrange to visit a GP if you are also experiencing:
- Trouble seeing, walking or talking
- Stiff neck
- Nausea and/or vomiting
- Fainting
- High fever
- Difficulty using one side of your body
- Feelings of extreme weakness, numbness or paralysis
Note: Dr Ciara Kelly does not endorse any medication brands.
