Frequently asked questions about headaches

1. Are migraines hereditary?

Yes, migraines have a tendency to run in families. Every four out of five people with migraines have a family history of migraines. If one parent has a history of migraines, the child has a 50% chance of developing migraines, and if both parents have a history of migraines, the risk jumps to 75%.

2. Can migraines be prevented?

Yes. You can reduce the frequency of your migraine attacks by identifying and then avoiding migraine triggers. You can keep track of your headache patterns and identify headache triggers by using a headache diary.

Recalling what was eaten prior to an attack may help you identify chemical triggers.

Stress management and coping techniques, along with relaxation training, can help prevent or reduce the severity of the migraine attacks.

Women who often get migraines around their menstrual period can take preventive therapy when they know their period is due.

People with migraines also seem to have fewer attacks when they eat on a regular schedule and get adequate rest.

Regular exercise - in moderation - can also help prevent migraines.

3. What painkillers are responsible for causing rebound headaches?

Many commonly used medications that provide immediate relief, when taken in large enough amounts, can cause rebound headaches. Medications once thought of as ‘safe' are turning up as the likeliest culprits. These include:

• Aspirin
• Sinus relief medications
• Paracetamol
• Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications 
• Sedatives for sleep
• Codeine and prescription narcotics
• Over-the-counter combination headache remedies containing caffeine 
• Ergotamine preparations (such as Cafergot, Migergot, Ergomar, Bellergal-S, Bel-Phen-Ergot S, Phenerbel-S, Ercaf, Wigraine and Cafatine PB)

4. Can allergies cause headaches?

It is a misconception that allergies cause headaches. However, allergies can cause sinus congestion, which can lead to headache pain. If you have allergies, the treatment for your allergy will not relieve your headache pain. The two conditions generally must be treated separately. See your doctor to ensure proper treatment.

5. Do children outgrow headaches?

Headaches may get better as your child gets older. The headaches may disappear and then return later in life. By secondary school, many boys who have migraines outgrow them, but in girls, migraine frequency increases because of hormone changes. Migraines are three times more likely to occur in adolescent girls than in boys.

6. What food triggers headaches?

Some of the most common food, beverages and additives associated with headaches include:

• Aged cheese and other tyramine-containing foods: Tyramine is a substance found naturally in some foods. It is formed from the break down of protein as foods age. Generally, the longer a high-protein food ages, the greater the tyramine content. The amount of tyramine in cheeses differs greatly due to the variations in processing, fermenting, ageing, degradation or even bacterial contamination. Tyramine is also found in red wine, alcoholic beverages and some processed meats.
• Alcohol: Blood flow to your brain increases when you drink alcohol. Some scientists blame the headache on impurities in alcohol or by-products produced as your body metabolises alcohol. Red wine, beer, whisky and champagne are the most commonly identified headache triggers.
• Food additives: Food preservatives (or additives) contained in certain foods can trigger headaches. The additives nitrates and nitrites dilate blood vessels, causing headaches in some people.
• Cold foods: Cold food such as ice cream can cause headaches in some people. It's more likely to occur if you are over-heated from exercise or hot temperatures. Pain, which is felt in the forehead, peaks 25 to 60 seconds and lasts from several seconds to one or two minutes. More than 90% of migraine sufferers report sensitivity to ice cream and cold substances.