Spectrum Health West Michigan

Headaches & How to Avoid Them

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich., April 2, 2012 – Almost everyone experiences a headache on occasion. For most people, they are simply an irritating nuisance. Unfortunately, some headache sufferers find frequent headaches so debilitating that they can keep them from normal daily activities, including work. 

According to Larry Charleston, IV, MD, Spectrum Health Medical Group, many headaches can be prevented and, most often, treated successfully.

“It is important to have the right headache diagnosis when implementing treatment,” says Charleston, a neurologist and headache specialist. According to the International Classification of Headache Disorders, headaches are classified in three categories: primary (e.g. migraine), secondary (e.g. post-traumatic headache), or cranial neuralgias and central causes of facial pain (e.g. occipital neuralgia).

“There are over 300 different diagnoses of headache with the most common being a tension headache. Most sufferers turn to over-the-counter medications for relief. The most common headache diagnosis or syndrome that individuals seek medical attention for are migraines,” said Charleston. “While there are many medications that can help to relieve headache pain, I recommend taking a more proactive approach by trying to avoid headaches.” 

His recommendations for “headache healthiness” include: 

1. Drink water! Dehydration is the number one cause of headaches in the world. Don’t let yourself get thirsty, especially while on the job.

2. Avoid the triggers of headache which can be food products, alcohol (especially red wine), or certain smells. Unfortunately, some of the “medical” smells that can be found in hospitals and other medical facilities may trigger headaches. 

3. Watch what you eat. Foods to avoid may include anything that is high in tyramine and/or mono sodium glutamate (MSG). Chinese food is notorious for MSG. Foods like aged meats and cheeses may contain tyramine.

4. Don’t skip meals! Try to regularly eat a healthy diet which may mean packing healthy snacks to get you through long work shifts. 

5. Are you allergic? In certain individuals, allergies may trigger headaches so a simple saline nasal wash may be of benefit.  

6. Try to get adequate sleep, even if you are working strange hours. Changes in sleep patterns, sleeping too little or even too much, can negatively affect headaches. 

7. Go for a jog, or a long walk. Exercise has proven beneficial to headache sufferers. 

For many headache sufferers, non-pharmacological modalities may be helpful in preventing headache attacks. Often, these modalities work best in the scope of a headache treatment plan. 

Charleston doesn’t recommend taking headaches lightly. 

“It’s not a good idea to ignore headaches and try suffering through them,” he explained. “There are times sufferers should seek immediate medical attention for a headache. Headache progression and neurologic or systemic changes associated with headaches can be a red flag designed to prompt one to seek help.” 

Charleston says that people with a history of headaches should contact their physician right away if they experience:

  • Progression of the headache
  • Increased headache frequency
  • Headaches worsened by increasing intra-thoracic pressure (i.e. bending, coughing) or with standing, lying, or certain neck movements

Even people without a history of headaches should contact their physician if they experience:

  • Headaches associated with transient visual problems
  • Headaches that are associated with systemic symptoms (e.g. weight loss, fevers, chills), changes in behavior or personality
  • Focal neurological symptoms or signs, including acute onset of weakness, acute change in vision, facial droop, slurred speech, etc.
  • A sudden peak or “thunderclap” headache
  • The headache is “the worst headache of my life!”

Finally, age can bring new headache concerns.

“Let your physician know if after age 50 you experience the onset of headaches. This could be significant and needs to be addressed,” said Charleston.      

Larry Charleston, IV, MD, completed his undergraduate degree at Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo, Michigan and earned his medical degree from Wayne State University School of Medicine in Detroit. Charleston completed preliminary medicine at St. John Hospital and Health System in Detroit, and neurology residency at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston. He completed a headache and facial pain fellowship at the Jefferson Headache Center in Philadelphia and a legislative fellowship as an American Academy of Neurology Professional Association’s Kenneth M. Viste Jr., MD, Neurology Public Policy Fellow in Washington, DC (Capitol Hill).

Spectrum Health is a not-for-profit health system in West Michigan offering a full continuum of care through the Spectrum Health Hospital Group, which is comprised of nine hospitals including Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital, a state of the art children’s hospital that opened in January 2011, and 190 service sites; the Spectrum Health Medical Group and West Michigan Heart, physician groups totaling more than 600 providers; and Priority Health, a health plan with 625,000 members. Spectrum Health is West Michigan’s largest employer with more than 18,000 employees. The organization provided $176.5 million in community benefit during its 2011 fiscal year.