Hunting headache solutions
July 13, 2012
A NEW survey currently being
conducted by headache.com.au is
hoping to shed light on the success
rates of various therapeutic
approaches to headaches according
to the type of headache pain.
“Head pain is often cited as the
most common reason people seek
health expert assistance,” said Dr
Jerome Dixon, Editor of
headache.com.au.
“Most of these cases can be
solved – it’s a case of knowing
where to start,” he added.
Speaking about the survey, Dixon
said that given that headaches and
migraines have numerous causes, it
is important for health
professionals to look at underlying
causes, including neck tension, jaw
clenching, eye strain, poor blood
sugar regulation, food triggers,
tension, stress and dehydration, in
addition to pathology.
“Too often sufferers are
diagnosed with a ‘common
headache’ or ‘common migraine’
after lots of scans, only to be told
to take medications,” Dixon said.
“It is important to rule out
pathology, but not to limit therapy
to medicating for symptoms only
when the treatment can usually be
taken so much further into addressing
the underlying causes,” he added.
The study will run until the end of
the year, and headache.com.au is
currently calling for Australian
headache sufferers to jump online
and participate.
Preliminary results will be
released mid-September.
MEANWHILE headache.com.au is
also in the process of building a
Practice Directory for health
professionals including pharmacists;
optometrists; chiropractors; ENTs;
neurologists; orthodontists;
psychologists and dentists.
“Unlike other directories that are
often one-dimensional according to
the profession that is represented,
this will be a multi-professional
directory of health experts relevant
to head pain,” Dixon said.
“The directory will cover Australia
and NZ, as well as selected international
health professionals,” he added.
According to Dixon, the site
contains independent expertise
from leading health professions, as
well as latest commentary on
research and news about
headaches and migraines.
See www.headache.com.au.
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