Australian headache issues
July 30, 2012
ONE in ten Australians suffer from
a headache every week, according
to the results of a new NPS study.
Conducted during National Pain
week, the survey of over 1,200
participants found that one in three
Australians suffer from headaches
at least once a month, of whom
one in 10 experience them once a
week or more often.
Of these sufferers, the survey
found that many may have trouble
pinpointing the possible triggers for
their headaches.
The survey also found that in
those who reported having regular
headaches (one or more a week),
around 50% have seen a doctor, but
only one in three kept a record of
their symptoms or other
information about their headaches.
The most popular treatment for
headaches, according to the survey
results, included over-the-counter
pain medicines, with 81% of
headache sufferers reporting using
one for their last headache.
Massage (11%) and ice packs (9%)
were also other popular treatment
options reported.
NPS clinical adviser Dr Philippa Binns
responded to the results saying “If
you are suffering from regular
headaches, there may be certain
environmental or lifestyle factors
which are triggering their onset”.
“For these people, keeping a
headache diary can help identify
these triggers and ultimately help
them avoid them,” Binns added.
A headache diary, according to
NPS allows sufferers to record
important details about headaches,
such as symptoms, frequency and
other factors which may be
contributing to their onset, and also
helps GPs treatment success rates.
As such, the NPS has released a
new Headache Diary, seenps.
org.au/conditions/headache.
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