Headache Relief for Women: How You Can Manage and Preventpain

The authors, founders of the New England Center for Headache who previously collaborated on Headache Relief, urge women to become active partners in the management of their own headache treatment. Neurologist Rapoport and Sheftell, a psychiatrist, do not trivialize the suffering of millions of women and, underscoring the importance of a good working relationship between patient and physician, suggest means for achieving this--including changing doctors, if necessary. Explaining what is known (and still unknown) about the mechanism of headaches, they describe the major types, especially migraines; their symptoms; and the various physical and emotional factors that may trigger headaches. The connection between headaches and the menstrual cycle, pregnancy, oral contraceptives and menopause is discussed in considerable detail. They note the highly individualized responses of sufferers to different treatments and, while emphasizing nondrug therapies, such as diet and stress reduction, pack the chapter on medications with useful information about over-the-counter and prescription drugs. (Jan.)