1) Educate yourself and your family. Read about your type of
headache and its treatment.
2) Maintain a headache diary.
3) Ask your doctor for written instructions about what to do
when you have a headache.
4) Limit your use of over-the-counter (nonprescription)
medications to no more than two doses per week. Excessive use can
actually increase headaches.
5) Follow a regular schedule:
- Don't skip meals, especially breakfast
- Get 8 hours of sleep nightly
- Learn to identify and avoid headache "triggers." Common
triggers include caffeinated foods and beverages (chocolate, teas,
colas, coffee), nitrates (luncheon meats, sausage/hot dogs,
pepperoni), tyramine (aged cheeses, pizza), other "junk" foods, and
Oriental foods containing MSG
- Minimize stress and other headache triggers
6) Daily school attendance IS A MUST!
7) Initiate non-drug measures at the earliest onset of your
headache:
- Seek rest in a cool, dark, quiet, comfortable location
- Use relaxation strategies and other methods to reduce
stress
- Apply a cold compress
8) Don't wait!! Take the maximum allowable dosage of
recommended medication(s) at the first sign of a severe
headache.
9) Take prescribed medication regularly, as directed, and
maintain regular follow-up visits.
10) Call your doctor when problems arise.