What are wellness programs for headache sufferers?

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Dr. Manuel Torres of Baptist Health South Florida answered:

If you frequently suffer from headaches, your doctor can help determine if overuse of prescription or over-the-counter medications is to blame.

The regular use of pain relievers can bring on the types of headaches that are becoming increasingly common. Other health conditions can trigger chronic headaches. A wellness program may include methods of diminishing stress and certain foods that could be responsible for your headaches.

Wellness programs can help pinpoint the precise cause, including medications, environmental issues, lack of sleep or excessive stimuli (noises, lights and odors) that could be contributing to the headaches at work or home.

Medications that can cause headaches include those for treating heart disease, asthma, high blood pressure and acid reflux. Pain medication, birth control pills and drugs used in hormone replacement therapy can also trigger recurrent headaches.

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If you frequently suffer from headaches, your doctor can help determine if overuse of prescription or over-the-counter medications is to blame. The regular use of pain relievers can bring on the types of headaches that are becoming increasingly... More
RealAge answered:
Wellness programs, often sponsored by health clinics or hospitals, aim to teach headache sufferers healthy living habits. Instruction includes topics such as diet, nutrition, and exercise. Participants are encouraged to stop smoking and to sleep for approximately 7 to 8 hours each night.

Programs encourage participants to identify headache triggers, for example, menstruation, prolonged overexertion, environmental changes, and excessive stimuli -- glare, noise, odors, and lights. Participants are encouraged to eliminate, when possible, other triggers: alcohol, fatty foods, and foods containing monosodium glutamate (MSG) and nitrites (hot dogs and other prepared meat).

Wellness programs educate headache sufferers as to which medications cause headaches and should be avoided. Some of the medications to be avoided include the following:
- nitrates, or nitroglycerin, used to treat coronary artery disease
- theophylline derivatives, used to treat asthma
- reserpine, used to treat high blood pressure
- nifedipine, a calcium channel blocker used to treat high blood pressure
- indomethacin, which is prescribed as a pain medication
- cimetadine, used to relieve acid indigestion
- birth control pills (oral contraceptives)
- drugs used in hormone replacement therapy
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Wellness programs, often sponsored by health clinics or hospitals, aim to teach headache sufferers healthy living habits. Instruction includes topics such as diet, nutrition, and exercise. Participants are encouraged to stop smoking and to... More