Headache Care

The primary clinical barrier to headache care is lack of knowledge among health-care providers. Although approximately 4 hours are dedicated to headache disorders in undergraduate medical education worldwide, only about 40% of patients are diagnosed professionally. Unfortunately, this poor awareness extends to the general public as well. Many people do not associate headaches with serious, life-threatening conditions. Moreover, a lack of knowledge among the public may explain the low consultation rates in developed countries. In addition, many patients do not seek professional care for their headaches, despite the availability of effective treatment options.

 How to Prevent Headaches

Although medications can help alleviate the pain from a headache, lifestyle changes can help prevent it in the first place. To combat this problem, one must reduce stress and avoid things that trigger headaches. A good place to start is keeping a headache diary. Record each time you have a headache and what causes it. You may also want to write down what triggers your headaches, such as certain foods, odors, and stress. These notes can help your healthcare provider determine the cause of your headaches and prescribe the appropriate treatment.

To help prevent headaches from coming back, it is a good idea to keep a headache diary. This will record the frequency and severity of your headaches, what causes them, and what you can do to reduce your risk of developing a headache. You may also want to record the type of medication you take for your headaches. There are two types of medications for headaches: acute medications and preventative medications. Acute medications are used to stop a headache immediately, while preventative medicines are used when they don’t.