Reference; https://mbp-japan.com/jijico/articles/32266/
Modified and translated by CFJA
The third most common primary headache is medication-overuse headache. Be cautious of taking too much medication.
Regarding COVID-19 infections and side effects from the new coronavirus vaccines, both Health Canada and Japan’s Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare consider it appropriate to ‘monitor the situation and take antipyretic analgesics if necessary’. As a result, there has been a sharp increase in people purchasing painkillers as a precaution after vaccination. While most people take them after pain occurs, some individuals are taking painkillers even without symptoms, out of concern to prevent pain. What is worrisome here is the possibility of headaches caused by overuse of medication. Headaches can be categorized into primary headaches, which are not caused by underlying conditions, and secondary headaches, which result from diseases such as subarachnoid hemorrhage. While the situation in Canada is likely similar, according to the Japan Headache Society, the most common primary headache is tension-type headache, followed by migraines in second place, and ‘medication-overuse headache’ in third place. The diagnostic criteria for this is taking painkillers more than 15 days a month, but in reality, those taking them more than 10 days a month should be cautious. This shows that casually overusing painkillers is dangerous.
There are various causes of headaches. Can they be alleviated by reconsidering your lifestyle?
The location and symptoms of headaches vary from person to person, such as heaviness in the forehead, circular pain at the top of the head, throbbing around the area above the ears, a dull sensation in the back of the head, or a sharp pain throughout the entire head. However, according to the International Classification of Headache Disorders, 3rd edition (ICHD-3), the causes of primary headaches are not yet clearly understood. From the perspective of traditional Eastern medicine, there is a correlation between irregular lifestyles and the location or condition of headaches. Even symptoms that modern medicine cannot fully explain may be relieved by reevaluating one’s daily habits. For those suffering from ‘medication-overuse headaches’, lifestyle improvements may be necessary.
One common type of headache is chronic tension-type headache. When pain occurs in the back of the head, the most common cause is shoulder stiffness. This is a symptom frequently seen in people who strain their eyes, lack physical exercise, or suffer from sleep deprivation. It has been increasing among people working from home, but back-of-the-head pain may be relieved by getting adequate sleep and exercise and taking regular breaks to rest the eyes. When the pain begins, rather than immediately taking painkillers, why not try exercising first? If the pain is intense, applying a warm towel to the painful area for 2-3 minutes, followed by wiping off the sweat with a dry towel, can also be effective. When the pain is caused by severe tension, massaging the affected area may actually worsen the pain. When the pain is severe, massaging, applying compresses, or taking baths are the three main factors that can aggravate the symptoms. It’s important to pay attention to your clothing and room temperature to ensure your body is not getting cold.
For those who are worried that stopping painkillers might make their headaches worse, reconsidering your lifestyle could be the first step toward relief.