Alexander Mauskop, MD, Headache Specialist:
We often ask patients to keep a journal to write down the duration of the headache, the severity and possible triggers such as what you ate, what you drank, how much did you sleep, what medicine you took and all these things sometimes help figure out what the trigger might be.
ANNOUNCER:
Drugs with caffeine designed to treat headaches can also be a problem - if they are taken too frequently.
Alexander Mauskop, MD, Headache Specialist:
Caffeine is a double-edged sword. In small amounts, it helps. But daily consumption of caffeine, whether it's Excedrin or coffee or soda, will lead to what we call rebound headaches.
ANNOUNCER:
Since stress is one of the most common triggers, learning coping techniques can also be beneficial.
Alexander Mauskop, MD, Headache Specialist:
We teach you breathing techniques and relaxation techniques that you become subconscious, you don't have to even think about it. Eventually it becomes a natural way to be, because it is much more natural to be relaxed than to be tense.
ANNOUNCER:
Thanks for joining us on today’s Once Daily.
