The Hormone Headache: New Ways to Prevent, Manage, and Treat Migraines and Other Headaches
At least 75% of chronic headache sufferers are women, says Diamond, executive director of the National Headache Foundation, in the introduction to this excellent guide to controlling hormone-linked headache pain. Aided by the Stills, who are medical writers, he examines recent research demonstrating the link between hormones and headaches, noting that there is much about the biochemical relationship that remains unclear. Explaining how hormones are produced and the roles they play in the transmission of pain, Diamond describes headaches by type: tension, vascular (migraine and cluster) and organically caused, e.g., by tumors. Following chapters discuss treatments for different types of headaches, including medications, dietary changes (chocolate is a big culprit), relaxation and biofeedback. According to Diamond, these strategies, either alone or in combination, can eliminate or reduce more than 90% of headaches. Illustrations.Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.