Frequent headaches? How to know if it's more than just a headache
MANILA, Philippines — Given the work from home (WFH) arrangement that many Filipinos have been privileged to have these days, you would think that the pressure would let up, as you would have more flexibility and freedom to navigate your own time.
The stress level remains high for some. There are more and more people who are experiencing not just back pains but also frequent headaches.
To be able to identify the different types of headaches and know when to be alarmed and see a doctor, HI-Eisai Pharmaceutical Inc., a research-oriented pharmaceutical company, recently spearheaded a free informational webinar titled "Madalas na Sakit ng Ulo? Huwag Balewalain, Pag-usapan Natin!" Medical experts came together to address matters concerning the different types of headaches commonly experienced today.
Hosted by TV host and celebrity mom Suzi Entrata-Abrera, the webinar on headaches came at the heels of a previous webinar that tackled issues on back pains caused by the same WFH set-up.
Different types of headaches
Addressing the growing concern over headaches, medical experts opened the discussion by saying that anyone can suffer from different types of headaches, such as tension-type headaches and migraines, regardless of age.
“A total of 90 to 95% of headaches experienced are primary headaches. The headache is the disease itself. They are not caused by other medical conditions. However, there are secondary headaches. These headaches are just symptoms of underlying medical conditions like infections, brain tumor, and brain hemorrhage,” said neurologist Dr. Godfrey Robeniol.
A tension-type headache is caused by excessive muscle contractions in the head, neck, and shoulder area that can cause pain and tightness on both sides of the head. Triggers include stress, improper body posture, dehydration, and squinting of the eyes. This is most common in a WFH set-up, with a decrease in mobility.
A migraine is usually felt on one side of the head and may be accompanied by nausea and vomiting. It is a neurological disorder characterized by recurrent attacks of severe headaches that are usually throbbing and can last for a few hours to a whole day.
Migraine triggers can be different for each person, but the most common factors are stress, lack of sleep, intense exhaustion, skipping of meals, certain kinds of food (e.g. cheese, processed meat), and hormonal changes for women.
Working from home during the pandemic and even after the pandemic has amplified these types of headaches because it involved mainly looking down on our phones, sitting or lying down for long hours, straining the eyes in front of a TV or laptop, and other unnatural body position. These activities may cause muscle spasms that can result in tension headaches.
'Deconditioning Syndrome'
“There’s what we call the 'Deconditioning Syndrome' not just in the neck but the whole body. We lack movement so we’re more prone to having these kinds of ailments in the musculature and especially in the head, neck, and shoulder area. It all boils down to having bad posture and a deconditioned state of the musculature,” rehabilitation medicine expert Dr. Jerico dela Cruz explained.
Deconditioning Syndrome occurs as a result of prolonged bed rest and loss of muscle strength and movement. The rehab medicine expert suggests stretching or exercising for at least 20 minutes a day to manage tension headaches.
To manage stress and reduce the body’s pain receptors, you can also try meditation, mind-body technique biofeedback, and massage or acupuncture. It is also important to feed and clear the mind by talking to friends or experts, like psychologists.
Addressing the problem
“Rest and sleep are good prevention measures, as well as proper body mechanics (the way you stand, the way you pick up things, carry stuff), and proper posture (shoulders relaxed, gaze straight ahead, upright posture, neutral pelvis, gluteal muscles engaged, abdomen pulled up, shoulders, hips, and ankles in line). Managing stress well is also proven and tested. Hence, exercise, in itself, is always helpful, so make it a habit,” Dr. Dela Cruz added.
It is easy for experts to spot the various reasons for headaches to be out for control for so many people. Simple symptoms can grow to high risk conditions if not addressed immediately. Seek medical attention if you are experiencing any of these red flags:
- Sudden change in headache frequency
- Increase in severity of the pain
- Neurological signs like imbalance, doubling of vision, paralysis, and increase in sleeping time
- Headaches that wake you up from sleep
- History of trauma
“It’s okay to self-medicate with OTC (over-the-counter) drugs, but in three to five days, if it’s still there, seek medical help. From there, we can provide the right prescription for pain relievers, muscle relaxants, anti-depressants, and anxiolytics if necessary,” Dr. Robeniol said.
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