Who has never suffered from headache?
The answer to this question is obvious, because headache or cephalalgia is a widespread disorder and it is estimated that, in Italy, 8 out of 10 people suffer from it, with a higher incidence recorded by women.
The age group most affected by headaches is between 18 and 65, but young people (40% suffer) and children (10%) are not spared. Headaches are as frequent as they are disabling, often making it impossible to carry out everyday activities.
Headaches are not all the same and learning to distinguish between them is the first step in combating them.
Headaches defined as primary include tension-type headache, cluster headache and migraine.
Tension-type headache is the most common and relatively less painful form of primary headache. It can occur at any time of life and is almost always associated with periods of intense stress. It is characterised by a persistent mild-to-moderate, non-pulsating pain that is often concentrated in the back of the head.
Cluster headache is characterised by a stabbing pain that affects only one side of the head and is often concentrated in the area around the eye.
Migraine is undoubtedly the most disabling form of headache, occurring in 10-15% of the population and frequently affecting women (70%).
It presents with a predominantly throbbing pain most often affecting one half of the skull, a medium to severe pain, which usually appears acutely and may be accompanied by symptoms such as nausea, often also vomiting, and discomfort from light and sound. It is intensified by physical activity and may last from a few hours to two or three days.
A migraine attack is often preceded by an aura phase with visual disturbances, speech disturbances or paralysis.
What should be done?
Before embarking on any do-it-yourself therapy, it is always a good idea to consult your doctor to find the most suitable treatment.
A good alternative to the most common remedies is phytotherapy, with plants such as ginger to combat localised states of tension or the phytosomal extract of turmeric (Meriva®).
Curcuminoids, the active principles contained in the Turmeric rhizome, taken orally, unfortunately have poor bioavailability. This limitation has been overcome with Meriva®, a phytosomal form of Turmeric, in which the active ingredients are carried on a liposomal matrix so as to increase absorption and plasma concentration of curcuminoids by up to 29 times more than a common dry Turmeric extract. Meriva® has been the subject of clinical studies comparing its analgesic activity with that of Paracetamol and Nimesulide. The results of these studies showed that the active ingredients contained in the plant rhizome have an analgesic efficacy comparable to that of Nimesulide and superior to that of Paracetamol, and an excellent gastric tolerability.
(Comparative evaluation of the pain-relieving properties of a lecithinized formulation of curcumin (Meriva®), nimesulide, and acetaminophen, Journal of pain research 7 march 2013.)
Operation in progress...
