Oh, it's just a headache ... Everyone's head hurts from time to time, and those affected don't find it tragic. But experts are now talking about a widespread disease. More than 70 percent of Germans suffer from headaches from time to time, one in four regularly. Every day, 900,000 people suffer a migraine attack, 100,000 of which are so severe that they are unable to work.

The everyday ailment

Despite this, many patients often think that their complaints are nothing serious: "Headaches are not perceived as an illness, precisely because they are an everyday condition," says Prof. Dr. Hartmut Göbel, Medical Director of the Kiel Pain Clinic. A third of migraine sufferers do not even know that they suffer from migraines.

250 different types

But not all headaches are the same. The International Headache Society distinguishes between around 250 different types of headache. Headaches are also divided into primary and secondary headaches. Primary headaches arise directly in the head, while secondary headaches are the result of other illnesses or medication.

Sluggish memory

Psychologists at Cardiff University have found out in two studies: Headaches go hand in hand with changes in behavior. Not only does the mood of those affected drop, but other impairments also occur: Logical thinking becomes less accurate and slower, and memory also works more slowly. The reaction time of those affected also increased in various tests. And: those who suffer from tension headaches can be distracted very easily.

They come back

Even if all changes disappear again after the pain attack, they should be taken seriously because they reduce quality of life - time and time again. This is because tension headaches often occur repeatedly and can last for several days.

Better prevention

Almost everyone is familiar with occasional tension-type headaches. "They are unproblematic and can be treated with peppermint oil or acutely with a painkiller," says Dr. Charly Gaul, head physician at the Königstein Migraine and Headache Clinic. "However, the level of suffering increases when the headaches become more severe or more frequent. Patients with chronic complaints in particular are severely restricted. Prevention plays a major role here," says Dr. Gaul.

Tips for prevention

The exact cause of headaches has not yet been clarified. Lots of fresh air and a glass of water can help to prevent headaches from occurring in the first place. Sufficient sleep of six to eight hours and regular exercise are also good ways of preventing headaches in the first place. Especially on stressful days, you should take a break from time to time. And if the pain is already there: a tablet helps quickly.

These active ingredients help quickly

ASA Acetylsalicylic acid has an anti-inflammatory, pain-relieving and blood-thinning effect. It is therefore also used to prevent circulatory disorders.

Caffeine It intensifies and accelerates the effect of painkillers by docking onto adenosine receptors, which are responsible for controlling excitation processes. This is why a strong espresso sometimes helps with a migraine attack.

Paracetamol is also a painkiller. A recent analysis by the Cochrane Society - an international network of scientists and doctors - came to the conclusion that the combination of ASA, paracetamol and caffeine works as well as the gold standard sumatriptan for migraines.

Treatment for migraine

Dr. Charly Gaul
Head Physician at the Migraine and Headache Clinic Königstein
www.migraene-klinik.de

In addition to medication, migraines can also be treated with relaxation techniques and behavioral therapy approaches. A new guideline from the German Migraine and Headache Society (DMKG) particularly advocates progressive muscle relaxation (PMR, examples above).

What role does relaxation play in migraine therapy?

"Those affected often suffer from high levels of tension. If they are less productive due to migraines, they often try to make up for it and thus increase their stress even more. Regular relaxation can reduce this high level of brain activity and the threshold for the next migraine attack is reached later."

The guideline emphasizes relaxation according to Jacobsen ...

"The method is relatively easy to learn and part of the costs are often covered by health insurance. PMR is based on alternating between tension and relaxation. The aim is to reduce mental tension via the physical functions. And studies have shown that this works."

Does the new guideline also apply to tension headaches?

"Yes, endurance sports and relaxation techniques are also recommended for tension headaches. The same principles apply and the effectiveness also appears to be comparable."

What other non-medicinal methods are available?

"Biofeedback training in particular has been well researched. Electrodes attached to the skin can be used to make vascular width or muscle tension visible and audible on the computer. Patients learn to influence involuntary functions such as blood flow, muscle tension, sweating and breathing and thus induce a state of relaxation."

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