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The causes of headache and migraine

In this chapter, some of the common and rare causes of headaches are outlined. This, however, is not an exhaustive Ust.

Before you readthis section, you must un derstand the following, This section of the book is not intendedtoaRow you to make a diagnosisas to thecause ofyour headache, Only a doctor can reaRy do thatfor you, This section isfor information only. If you have any unusual symptoms, a strong headache, or one whioh haspersistedfor morę than 24 hours, you are strongly advised toseeyour doctor,

One other point needs to be madę. When you read this section, bear in mind something called medical students' disease.This is the psychological condition where studying or reading about illness and diseases can help to convincepeoplethat they aresufferingfromthoseailments. Itcan affect any one, not just those people who are anxious or hypochondriacaL When peopleread about something, they are susceptible to their imagination running wild. (It's quite similar to the way people often feel after watching a horror movie: they get jumpy and start to worry that an intruder is up the stairs or waiting for them in the wardrobe!) Medical students commonly experience this phenomenon. After learning that diabetes can be associated with intense thirst, they may start to feel thirsty. After studying diseases like arthritis, they start to notice the creaks and clicks in their joints. Learning about somethingmakes you aware of it, but sometimes you become hyper-aware. T he best way to avoid this problem is to write down all of your symptoms before reading what follows. If something is not on your list when you read further, it ought to help to put your mind at rest Please do it now, before you read any further.

Just about anythingcan cause a headache (although the causes of migraine are somewhat morę limited). In addition to things going wrong in the head or the body in generał, headaches can stem from many of the things we eat

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