Talk to Your Healthcare Provider About Your Headaches

Headache Treatment

Open communication is vital to receiving effective medical care, this is especially true for America's 45 million headache sufferers. According to a recent online survey conducted by the National Headache Foundation (www.headaches.org), 84 percent of visitors to the NHF Web site are seeing a healthcare provider for their headaches.

Understanding what your healthcare provider is communicating when discussing treatment of your headaches is crucial. Only 30 percent of the survey respondents indicated that they comprehend what their healthcare provider had to say when discussing their headaches. Many factors may explain these findings. Doctors may not clearly explain the diagnosis and treatment recommendations or patients may be anxious and therefore may not be actively listening. Patients should focus on those questions they feel are the most important. Writing those questions down is a good first step. It is probable that multiple visits to your healthcare provider will be needed.

Experts recommend keeping a headache diary as it can be a useful tool when discussing your headaches with your healthcare provider. They recommend tracking your headaches in an organized way, including the date/time, length, severity, symptoms and triggers. Making note of what medication was taken, if any, and the effectiveness is also valuable information. A copy of a headache diary can be obtained at www.headaches.org

Finding a healthcare provider who takes the time to listen is also important. Nearly a third of the survey respondents reported that their healthcare providers did not answer their questions adequately. Learning as much as you can about your headaches is essential, as is finding a healthcare provider who is willing to take the time to listen and explain what your diagnosis means and what your treatment options are.

Building an open and trusting relationship with your healthcare provider is necessary for successful treatment of your headaches. Eighty-eight percent of survey respondents reported they do feel they can be honest with their healthcare provider. Headache sufferers need to also be patient and persistent. Finding a successful treatment program may be a trail and error process. Some medications can take up to three months to become effective and it may take several trials to find the right dose of the right medication.

The National Headache Foundation, founded in 1970 and celebrating its 35th anniversary, is a nonprofit organization dedicated to serving headache sufferers, their families and the healthcare providers who treat them; promoting research into headache causes and treatments; and educating the public to the fact that headaches are a legitimate biological disease and that sufferers should receive understanding and continuity of care.

For more information on headache causes and treatments, visit www.headaches.org or call 1-888-NHF-5552 (M-F. 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. CT).

It is important that headache sufferers and their healthcare providers have access to the most current information about causes and treatment options. The National Headache Foundation offers a brochure entitled, How to Talk to Your Healthcare Provider About Headaches. A copy of this 8-page brochure can be obtained for $1.50 by sending a self-addressed, stamped envelope to the National Headache Foundation, Dept HTT, 820 N. Orleans, Suite 217, Chicago, IL 60610-3132.

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CHICAGO, IL - April 21, 2005 - National Headache Foundation