Forty-five million of us get it. It hampers our efforts at work, school, and home, prompting 18 million medical visits a year. It's the Great American Headache. According to Kevin Kelly, M.D., family practice physician and member of Fairview Physician Associates, headaches may be triggered by muscle tension, inflamed blood vessels around the head and neck, or electrical or chemical instability in the brain.
Prevention begins by avoiding the conditions stress, noise, etc.
Regular exercise and plenty of sleep also help, along with healthy eating habits. Even for minor headaches, don't just grab any old bottle. Frank also advises anyone taking blood thinners, or who has ulcers or kidney or liver damage, to ask a pharmacist if these products are safe. Finally, she says, check the ingredients of the various pain killers. Advice like this could save you a lot of headaches.