Are Different Types Of Headaches Really Responsible For Loss Of Productivity?

It is claimed that different types of headaches are costing US companies $13 billion a year in lost revenue through the number of sick days taken and through loss of impaired function while at work.

It is a global condition that affects nearly half the world's population at some time during their life. It has been claimed by the World Health Organization that the various types of headaches fall within the five most debilitating conditions affecting women.

Men, on the other hand are slightly less affected by them than are women as this global condition falls within the 10 most debilitating conditions for them.

Their severity and frequency are, of course, unique to each individual sufferer, however cluster headaches and migraines are classed as being the most intense in severity as the pain can also bring on nausea and vomiting.

What is interesting to note though is that the incidence of disability caused by tension headaches are in fact higher than migraines or cluster headaches due to the greater amount of people that get them.

* Roughly there are:

* 11% migraine sufferers

* 42% tension headache sufferers

* 3% chronic headache sufferers (combined symptoms that affect them more than 15 days per month).

Headaches and migraines not only affect society economically they also affect all relationships. This is especially true when it comes to migraine sufferers as 70% are believed to also suffer from depression and short-term memory loss.

Treatment

Over the counter medications are abundantly available to reduce pain and ease the other symptoms associated with this condition but ingestion of these medicines too often can lead to additional unwanted problems of their own.

The side effects to taking these medications can be drowsiness, lack of concentration and they can also lead to an 'overuse headache' that is even more intense and painful than the original condition.

A Synergistic Approach

What do I mean by a synergistic approach?

Does a synergistic approach work?

The synergistic approach to treating headaches and migraines can either be a combined treatment including

a) Natural healing techniques combined with prescribed medication
b) Natural healing techniques combined with large increases of water without medication.
c) Natural healing techniques combined with large increases of water with medication.

As a holistic therapist I personally treat myself with the second option. It is amazing how headaches and migraine respond when you make sure that you are fully hydrated and your sodium levels are balanced. Sometimes that is enough to ease the headache on its own. Unlike yesterday when I was suffering with a bad migraine, which is very rare nowadays. In fact I can't remember when I last suffered from a really bad attack.

If like in my experience water does not ease it totally on its own then you can assist the process by learning self help techniques that you can do at home e.g. reflexology. In addition you will be surprised how simply the different types of headaches can be prevented by making some small changes to your lifestyle.

The benefits of using a natural synergistic approach is that there are no unwanted side effects to the treatment, you will not have to suffer with increased headaches or drowsiness etc. and as with all natural healing it is not only your immediate condition that will improve but the body as a whole will benefit from the experience.