Exercise helps stop headaches

Press, 26 December 1985, Page 11

Exercise helps stop headaches

By

Judi Sheppard Missett

A few years ago, I had a friend who suffered from headaches regularly. They were not only uncomfortable, but got in the way of even the simplest of her daily tasks. After months of aggravation, she finally agreed to see a physician. His prescription did not consist of drugs or even a change of diet, but rather a one to two-mile walk every day. The answer, he said, was exercise. Today, exercise has become a common prescription for headache sufferers. “Headache,” a medical journal, describes the role exercise plays in pain prevention. Dr Otto Appenzeller writes that activities such as walking, running, cycling, and swimming can help your body to produce enzymes which prevent blood vessels in your brain from expanding and pressing on sensitive nerves. This is of special help to those individuals suffering from migraines — vascular headaches which are caused by artery dilation. There are several other types of headaches which are responsible for a majority of our discomfort. The most common of these is the tension headache — both emotional and muscular — which accounts for approximately 90 per cent of all headache pain reported. Pain from tension headaches usually centralise in our temples, neck, and shoulders. Relaxation and stress reduction can offer relief, but the best antidote again, appears to be exercise. Many people suffer from sinus headaches, where the gain is centralised -ttrounc me eyes, cheeks, ancrin the

centre of . the forehead just above the eyebrows. Inflammation of tlae mucous membranes around the nose usually are to blame for the discomfort Changes in weather, and allergies, are common causes of these headaches. Treatments range from hot compresses around the eyes and nose, to steam humidifiers on medhatton. Cluster headaches cave

been described as the least common and most painful type of headache. They are another form of vascular headache which comes in clusters — frequent attacks over a short period of time. Just as they appear suddenly, these headaches can disappear for months at a time. Centralised around the eyes and'extremely painful, cluster headaches often are

accompanied by nose congestion, watering of the eye and a reddening of the skin.

For those of us operating under conditions of stress and tension, exercise can be valuable, preventative medicine for headaches. Loosen up and have some fun with the following prop exercise to “Where Do the Boy 4 Go,” by Men Without Hats.

As for my friend with the headaches, she took heed of her doctors advice and began walking daily. The pain

quickly disappeared. Now she has undertaken a vigorous exercise programme combining walking, running and aerobic dance, and told me recently that she’s never felt better!— Copyright 1985 Jazzercise Inc. »