National Headache Foundation Offers Holiday Tips for Headache Sufferers
CHICAGO, IL - November 17, 2006 - Do you find yourself more stressed out during the holiday season? According to a recent online survey conducted by the National Headache Foundation (NHF), 52% of respondents stated that during the holiday season the frequency or severity of their headache increases. In fact 64% of respondents have changed their holiday plans due to their headaches.
There are a number of situations that can exacerbate one’s headache condition and according to the NHF online survey the three most prevalent triggers include stress due to added responsibilities (61%), alterations in sleep/wake cycle (56%) and being in smoke or perfumed filled rooms (47%).
- Don’t disrupt your normal sleeping and waking patterns. Those late-night parties can also lead to headaches by tempting you to stay up past your bedtime and wake up later than usual. Try to go to sleep and awaken the same time every day. To minimize this potential trigger, 44% of survey respondents said that they maintain a regular sleep/wake cycle.
- Be aware of smoke- and perfume-filled rooms. Both are typical celebration environments that can trigger headaches. If possible, get some fresh air or find an area that is relatively smoke- and perfume-free. Forty-three percent of those who took the survey try to avoid an environment with olfactory triggers.
- If you choose to drink alcohol, do so in moderation. Try to sip your drink slowly. Mixed drinks containing fruit or vegetable juices will probably have less negative effect than straight alcohol. Alternate non-alcoholic beverages such as soda or water. Avoid red wine, which contains tyramine, a naturally occurring amino acid known to trigger headaches. Try a glass of white wine instead. Forty-four percent of survey respondents noted that they watch with they drink to eliminate headache triggers.
- Don’t skip meals. An empty stomach could spur a headache. Therefore, if you’re unable to follow your normal eating schedule, be sure to pack snacks. Avoid foods such as ripe cheeses, processed meats and chocolate, which may trigger headaches for some people. Forty-six percent of survey respondents indicated that they are careful about what they eat at holiday parties.
- Schedule personal time. Holidays bring families together for quality time, but being with your family over several days, perhaps in close quarters, may be stressful. Have realistic expectations about the visit. Plan to visit friends, take long walks and give yourself a break from all that family togetherness. Take a day off from work either prior to or following holiday celebrations in order to prepare for or to recover from your gatherings.
- See your healthcare provider. If you find that you are experiencing more frequent or severe headaches during the holidays, you should make a specific appointment with your healthcare provider for an accurate diagnosis and to develop a treatment plan. The NHF has state lists of physicians with an interest in headache, available on request.
The National Headache Foundation (NHF) is a nonprofit organization exists to enhance the healthcare of headache sufferers. It is a source of help to sufferers' families, physicians who treat headache sufferers, allied healthcare professionals and to the public. The NHF accomplishes its mission by providing educational and informational resources, supporting headache research and advocating for the understanding of headache as a legitimate neurobiological disease.
For more information on headache causes and treatments, visit www.headaches.org or call 1-888-NHF-5552 (M-F 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. CST).
Interviews with headache specialists can be arranged upon request by e-mailing broberts@silbarpr.com. An electronic copy of this press release is also available by contacting the same e-mail address.
Contact:
Suzanne E. Simons
Executive Director
National Headache Foundation
(312) 274-2651
Brent Roberts or Brooke Highline
Merton G. Silbar Public Relations
(847) 729-7333
broberts@silbarpr.com or bhighline@silbarpr.com
