How to Treat a Headache
Alleviating Fibromyalgia-Related Muscle Pain Through Nutrition
September 23, 2019Peripheral Nerve Injuries
October 9, 2019Your health care provider can advise you on how best to treat your headache. You can help most headaches by taking these steps.
Avoid triggers. Triggers are events that can cause headaches. These tips can help you avoid triggers.
If you have migraines:
- Wear tinted glasses in bright light.
- Do not skip meals.
- Avoid alcohol, meat with added nitrates (such as cold cuts), and aged cheeses (hard, dry cheeses such as parmesan).
If you have tension headaches:
- Avoid getting over tired.
- Hold your back and neck straight when you sit or stand.
- Keep your jaw relaxed (not clenched).
Quit smoking. Smoking can bring on either kind of headache.
Manage stress. Try meditation, yoga, stretching, or other activities that can help you relax.
Get plenty of sleep. Aim for six to eight hours of sleep each night. Set a regular time to go to bed and to wake up. Avoid watching TV or using a computer just before you go to bed.
Get plenty of exercise. Regular exercise, such as swimming, brisk walking, or cycling, can reduce stress and ease both kinds of headaches.
Non-prescription pain medicines such as the following can help:
- Tylenol (or generic acetaminophen), Advil (or generic ibuprofen), or Aleve (or generic naproxen). You can buy all of these without a prescription. The generic versions, including store brands, cost less and are just as safe and effective as the brand-name pills.
- Try not to take any of these pills more than once or twice a week. Overuse can make headaches worse and cause side effects.
If your headaches are severe or happen often, there are medications which your health care provider can prescribe to help lower the pain level and/or reduce how frequently you get them.
Thank you to Choosing Wisely Canada for sharing this article.
To view original article Click Here
View Sources
References
- 1. Foundation FF. 25th Anniversary World Health Organization has recognized Fibromyalgia. http://laff.es/en/25-Aniversary-World-Health-Organization-recognized-Fibromyalgia. Published May 12, 2017. Accessed May 17, 2018.
- 2. Heymann RE, Paiva ES, Martinez JE, et al. New guidelines for the diagnosis of fibromyalgia.Rev Bras Reumatol Engl Ed. 2017;57 Suppl 2:467-476.
- 3. Wolfe F, Clauw DJ, Fitzcharles MA, et al. 2016 Revisions to the 2010/2011 fibromyalgia diagnostic criteria. Semin Arthritis Rheum. 2016;46(3):319-329.
- 4. National Fibromyalgia Association. Prevalence. http://www.fmaware.org/about-fibromyalgia/prevalence/. Accessed May 17, 2018.
- 5. Bjørklund G, Dadar M, Chirumbolo S, Aaseth J. Fibromyalgia and nutrition: therapeutic possibilities?Biomed Pharmacother. 2018;103:531-538.
- 6. Arranz LI, Canela MA, Rafecas M. Fibromyalgia and nutrition, what do we know?Rheumatol Int. 2010;30(11):1417-1427.
- 7. Holton KF, Taren DL, Thomson CA, Bennett RM, Jones KD. The effect of dietary glutamate on fibromyalgia and irritable bowel symptoms. Clin Exp Rheumatol. 2012;30(6 Suppl 74):10-17.
- 8. Rana MG. Fibromyalgia Is Recognized as an Official Diagnosis in the ICD Codes list. Fibromyalgia Resources. https://fibromyalgiaresources.com/fibromyalgia-recognized-official-diagnosis-new-medical-coding-list/. Published July 18, 2017. Accessed May 17, 2018.
- 9. American College of Rheumatology. Fibromyalgia. https://www.rheumatology.org/I-Am-A/Patient-Caregiver/Diseases-Conditions/Fibromyalgia. Updated March 2017. Accessed May 17, 2018.
- 10. Macfarlane GJ, Kronisch C, Dean LE, et al. EULAR revised recommendations for the management of fibromyalgia. Ann Rheum Dis. 2017;76(2):318-328.
- 11. Häuser W, Ablin J, Perrot S, Fitzcharles MA. Management of fibromyalgia: practical guides from recent evidence-based guidelines.Pol Arch Intern Med. 2017;127(1):47-56.
- 12. Kia S, Choy E. Update on treatment guideline in fibromyalgia syndrome with focus on pharmacology.Biomedicines. 2017;5(2):20.
- 13. Rossi A, Di Lollo AC, Guzzo MP, et al. Fibromyalgia and nutrition: what news?Clin Exp Rheumatol. 2015;33(1 Suppl 88):S117-S125.