Headaches: Types and Treatments

 
Headaches. There is nothing pleasant about them. Whether it’s the gentle buzzing in the back of your mind, or throbbing along both sides of your head, headaches are painful! In the United States, headaches plague 45 million people every year. Chances are you’ve probably had one, or maybe more just this semester! Here are the different types of headaches and treatments for each.

• Tension Headaches 
• (MOST COMMON)
• Symptoms:
• Dull, achy
• Feels like there is a tight band around your head
• Mild to moderate pain on both sides of your head
• Can last 30 minutes to a week
• Can be occasional or chronic
• Triggered by stress, neck strain, missed meals, depression, anxiety or lack of sleep
• Treatment:
• Over-the-counter medications: Like aspirin, ibuprofen (Advil or Motrin), or acetaminophen (Tylenol)
• Meditation
• Relaxation techniques

• Migraine Headaches
• Symptoms:
• Throbbing and severe
• Accompanied by nausea, vomiting, and increased sensitivity to light and sound
• May worsen with routine activity
• Can last four to 72 hours when untreated
• Treatment:
• Aimed at relieving symptoms and preventing more attacks
• Avoid triggers
• Over-the-counter medications
• Rest in a dark room
• Use a hold or cold compress
• Massage
• Drink water to avoid dehydration

• Chronic Headaches
• Symptoms:
• Experiencing a headache at least 15 times during the month
• Diagnosed by doctor
• Treatment:
• Treat underlying illness or disease
• If cause is unclear, preventative medications.

• Other Headaches:
• Cluster Headaches: In cluster headaches, a person experiences one to three headaches a day over a period of time. They start quickly and reach their highest intensity quickly. They usually affect one side of the head. Over-the-counter medications are not effective in these headaches and other prescribed medications are required.
• Sinus Headaches: A headache that is the result of swelling in the cheek, nose, and eye sinuses.
• Result of cold, flu, fever, or premenstrual syndrome

Headache Journal
If you experience headaches fairly frequently, you may want to keep a headache journal to write the details of your headaches and the factors surrounding it. The following information should be included:

• Time and date of headache
• What you ate in the past 24 hours
• Length of previous night’s sleep
• Activity right before headache started
• Stressors in your life
• How long it lasted
• What treatment worked to relieve symptoms

Sources:
"Headache Statistics." I Hate Headaches. I Hate Headaches, n.d. Web. 24 June 2013. <http://www.ihateheadaches.org/headache-statistics.html>.

"Headache." U.S National Library of Medicine. U.S. National Library of Medicine, 22 Mar. 2013. Web. 24 June 2013. <http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003024.htm>.

"Headaches: Treatment Depends on Your Diagnosis and Symptoms." Mayo Clinic. Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research, 17 Aug. 2012. Web. 24 June 2013. <http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/headaches/HE00001>.

"How to Win Friends & Influence People"

Do you want to make friends more quickly and easily? Do you want to have better skills in conflict-resolution? Do you want to improve your interactions with others? Do you want to be a better leader?
These are traits that every young adult, parent, leader, boss, or employee desire to have. When we are more successful in our personal and professional interactions, we have greater satisfaction in what we do and have better physical, mental, social, and spiritual health.

In 1936, How to Win Friends and Influence People was published (by Dale Carnegie). Since then, it has become one of the most popular self-help books with over 15 million copies being sold. This book contains 30 simple suggestions to help you in your daily communications.

Implement these, and see the change in your life!

Principles from HOW TO WIN FRIENDS AND INFLUENCE PEOPLE

BECOME A FRIENDLIER PERSON
1. Don’t criticize, condemn or complain.
2. Give honest, sincere appreciation.
3. Inspire others to want to act or listen. 
4. Become genuinely interested in other people.
5. Smile.
6. Remember that a person’s name is to that person the sweetest and most important sound in any language.
7. Be a good listener. Encourage others to talk about themselves.
8. Talk in terms of the other person’s interests.
9. Make the other person feel important – and do it sincerely.

WIN PEOPLE TO YOUR WAY OF THINKING
10. The only way to get the best of an argument is to avoid it.
11. Show respect for the other person’s opinion. Never say, “you’re wrong.”
12. If you are wrong, admit it quickly and emphatically.
13. Begin in a friendly way.
14. Get the other person saying, “yes, yes” immediately.
15. Let the other person do a great deal of the talking.
16. Let the other person feel that the idea is his or hers.
17. Try honestly to see things from the other person’s point of view.
18. Be sympathetic with the other person’s ideas and desires.
19. Appeal to the nobler motives.
20. Dramatize your ideas.
21. Throw down a challenge.

BE A LEADER
22. Begin with praise and honest appreciation.
23. Call attention to people’s mistakes indirectly.
24. Talk about your own mistakes before criticizing the other person.
25. Ask questions instead of giving direct orders.
26. Let the other person save face.
27. Praise the slightest improvement and praise every improvement. Be “hearty in your approbation and lavish in your praise.”
28. Give the other person a fine reputation to live up to.
29. Use encouragement. Make the fault seem easy to correct.
30. Make the other person happy about doing the thing you suggest.

Sources:
Carnegie, Dale. How to Win Friends and Influence People. N.p.: Pocket, 1990. Print.

Strengthening Your Relationship With Dad

This Sunday, Father’s Day, we remember the good men who have blessed and influenced our lives – especially fathers. 

 "Earthly Father, Heavenly Father" - Mormon Message

Research has shown that fathers have a direct influence on the lives of their children. Children who have a good relationship with their father typically have greater cognitive ability, educational achievement, psychological well-being, and social behavior. These benefits can extend into adolescence and adulthood.

Even as a distant college student, there are things you can do to strengthen the relationship you have with your dad. Here are three simple suggestions for improving your relationship with your father given by Elder M. Russell Ballard.

1.    First, trust your father. He is not perfect, but he loves you and would never do anything he didn’t think was in your best interest. So talk to him. Share your thoughts and feelings, your dreams and your fears. The more he knows about your life, the better chance he has to understand your concerns and to give you good counsel. When you put your trust in your dad, he will feel the responsibility of that trust and try harder than ever to understand and to help. As your father, he is entitled to inspiration on your behalf. His advice to you will be the heartfelt expressions of someone who knows and loves you. Your dad wants more than anything for you to be happy and successful, so why would you not want to trust someone like that? Boys [and girls], trust your dad.

2.    Second, take an interest in your father’s life. Ask about his job, his interests, his goals. How did he decide to do the work that he does? What was he like when he was your age? How did he meet your mother? And as you learn more about him, you may find that his experiences help you to better understand why he responds the way that he does. Watch your dad. Watch how he treats your mother. Watch how he performs his Church callings. Watch how he interacts with other people. You will be surprised what you learn about him just by watching him and listening to him. Think about what you don’t know about him and find out. Your love, admiration, and understanding will increase by what you learn. Boys [and girls], be interested in your dad’s life.

3.    And third, ask your father for advice. Let’s be honest: he is probably going to give you his advice whether you ask for it or not, but it just works so much better when you ask! Ask for his advice on Church activity, on classes, on friends, on school, on dating, on sports or other hobbies. Ask for his counsel on your Church assignments, on preparing for your mission, on decisions or choices you have to make. Nothing shows respect for another person as much as asking for his advice, because what you are really saying when you ask for advice is, “I appreciate what you know and the experiences you have had, and I value your ideas and suggestions.” Those are nice things for a father to hear from his son.

Sources:
Ballard, M. Russell. "Fathers and Sons: A Remarkable Relationship." LDS.org. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Oct. 2009. Web. 10 June 2013. <http://www.lds.org/general-conference/2009/10/fathers-and-sons-a-remarkable-relationship?lang=eng>.

Rosenberg, Jeffrey, and Bradford W. Wilcox. "The Importance of Fathers in the Healthy Development of Children." Child Welfare Information Gateway. U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, 2006. Web. 10 June 2013. <https://www.childwelfare.gov/pubs/usermanuals/fatherhood/chaptertwo.cfm>.

Mission Prep: Physical & Mental Health

Since President Monson’s announcement about the change in mission age during General Conference last October, thousands of young men and young women have made the decision to serve a mission. As of April 4, 2013, there were 65,634 full-time missionaries, 20,000 with their mission calls, and 6,000 in the interview process. As a comparison, there were 58,990 missionaries at the end of 2012, 55,410 at the end of 2011, and 52,225 at the end of 2010.

In order to be a successful missionary, it is important that you are physically and mentally well. The following are suggestions given by Dr. Donald A. Doty, Chairman of the Missionary Department Health Services, to prepare for missionary service:

Physical Preparation

• Regular physical activity. A typical missionary can expect to walk an average of six miles a day or bike an average of twelve miles a day. Prospective missionaries should participate in regular aerobic exercise so they will be prepared for the physical activity required each day of the mission. If you become easily fatigued out in the field, you may be less productive, become more discouraged, or experience additional health problems.
• Adequate sleep. As a missionary, you will be in bed by 10:30 PM and awake by 6:30 AM. Get into a stable routine of going to bed and waking up at normal times. Avoid staying up extremely late, sleeping late into the day, or taking long naps.
• Healthy eating habits. Prospective missionaries must be at a healthy weight to serve a mission. It is also important that you eat a balanced diet of grains, fruits, vegetables, and other foods containing protein and fiber. If you have an addiction to carbonated drinks, break the habit.
• Meal preparation skills. It is important that you know simple meal preparation skills as well as food handling and proper clean up. Many missionaries will only have a hot plate to cook food and may not have a dishwasher – these basic skills will be very helpful.
• Personal hygiene. Practice good dressing and grooming habits. The way you present yourself will have an impression on the people you talk too. Good hygiene habits like hand-washing will also protect you from germs and infection.
• Dental health. Take care of any dental repair or orthodontic work before your mission. Brush your teeth at least every morning and night, and floss your teeth.
• Chronic health issues. Discuss and take care of any chronic or serious health problems with your doctor.
• Immunizations. Obtain all of the necessary and required vaccinations. Once you receive your call, you may be required to get additional shots.

Mental Health

• Mood disorders. If you experience chronic or recurring depression, anxiety, sadness, or fear, you should discuss this with a doctor and receive treatment if necessary.
• Abnormal thought patterns & learning disorders. Excessive thoughts of worry or guilt or perfectionism can limit your ability to serve as a missionary, as well as obsessive-compulsive thoughts or learning disorders. Speak with your doctor to treat these thought patterns.
• Eating disorders. Prospective missionaries should not have unhealthy eating habits like binge eating or anorexia or bulimia. These can create serious health risks and are not compatible with missionary service. They need to be resolved before a mission.
• Homesickness. Although some homesickness is a normal response to leaving home for the mission, severe anxiety can interfere with a missionary’s ability to work, eat, and sleep. If possible, before you leave from your mission, learn to spend some time away from home.
• Social skills. As a missionary, you will be interacting with people of all ages, cultures, and backgrounds. You should become comfortable talking to different people. Practice respect, courtesy, and appropriate manners. Learn to initiate conversations and talk with people you may not know or who are out of your normal circle of acquaintances. Be aware of cultural differences throughout the world.
• Work. “Missionary work is just that, work. There is nothing easy about missionary work, so young people should develop the ability to work reliably. A regular job teaches such habits as getting to work on time, not missing work unnecessarily, doing assigned tasks well, looking for more work when the assigned task is completed, and not going home early.” Work also helps young people understand the value of money. Missionaries should try to pay for as much as their missions as possible rather than depending on others. 

 

Mission Physicals

Before you submit your mission papers, you will be required to meet with a doctor and have a “mission physical.” At the Student Health Center, our providers have conducted over 834 mission physicals since last October and are doing more every day.

The Student Health Center has the following guidelines for setting up and coming to your mission physical:
After you have met with your bishop, print the following forms and fill them out:

• Physician’s Health Evaluation
• Personal Health History of Missionary Candidate
• Additional Health History
• Immunization Records
• Bishop's Address

Schedule TWO appointments at the Health Center by calling 208-496-9330.

1. Immunizations Nurse and Lab – bring your printed forms and current immunization records!
2. Physical appointment with provider (two days later).

To prepare for your appointment, drink plenty of water before coming and make sure to wear your glasses or contacts if you normally wear them.

Once your mission papers are complete, the Student Health Center will mail them directly to your bishop!
Everything you do now to prepare for your mission – whether it’s physically, mentally, or spiritually – will help you in your future service! Begin your preparations today!

Sources:
“Missionary Health Preparation” Donald B. Doty, M.D. Ensign, March 2007. http://www.lds.org/ensign/2007/03/missionary-health-preparation?lang=eng

“Missionary Physical Guidelines” BYU-Idaho Student Health Center. http://www.byui.edu/health-center/services/mission-physicals