Headaches: So you're thinking about self-medicating

Headaches have many causes. Some triggers are easier to pinpoint and reduce or eliminate than others. If you're among the unfortunate bunch whose headaches are less cooperative or harder to trace, there are still plenty of natural treatments that can give you relief.

But perhaps you're thinking, Why not just take that pill? It's a quick way to do away with the pain, and it's right here. I don't even need an appointment or prescription. Why spend all this time changing my environment and even keeping a headache journal? What's the big deal?

For someone who rarely suffers a headache, maybe it isn't a big deal to just take an aspirin and a nap. But what I hear from a lot of patients tells me that's not the case. For many people, headaches are not a once-in-a-while annoyance but a frequent, regular pain (pardon the expression). For these sufferers, in reality, "just" take a pill would add up to dozens of pills each week!

On top of that, many headache sufferers find that common drugs such as aspirin and ibuprofen lose their effectiveness when used repeatedly--which means they have to take more and more to get the pain under control. Even "safe" drugs are anything but when used in large quantities or over a long period. And consider this:

• Aspirin has long been linked to gastrointestinal bleeding. In addition, it can decrease the blood's ability to clot properly. Patients who have bleeding problems or who take certain prescription drugs are especially at risk of this side effect.


• Ibuprofen can contribute to liver and/or kidney impairment and, in women, increased hypertension.


• Acetominophen in high or frequent doses can cause serious liver damage.

There's no question, these drugs are wonderful when used only as necessary to treat serious or debilitating conditions. But when what you're relieving is a headache that could be caused by something as simple as a reaction to your new perfume, is it really worth it to take the risk? I think not.

Headaches are painful, and when they're intense or frequent, they can put a damper on productivity and happiness. No doubt, this isn't easy to handle. But you can do it, and most likely you can do it without drugs.

Make a conscious decision now to discover the cause and prevent that headache from happening. And then commit to learning about the many alternatives to self-medicating.