Latest news

Women bearing the brunt of aching heads

Monday June 27, 2005

New research announced today shows that women are getting the raw end of the deal when it comes to severe headaches.

The research reveals that a staggering 84 percent of Australians have experienced a severe headache in the past 12 months – and the majority are women.

Women make up 62 percent of this compared to only 37 percent of men.

The research, published in the latest issue of the Pfizer Australia Health Report, was conducted for Headache Australia and researched-based medicines company,
Pfizer Australia.

Headache Australia, an initiative of the Brain Foundation, says that severe headaches have traditionally been more common in women than men, this
difference being most obvious during the reproductive years.

“Female sex hormones are an important factor but not the only one. Headache is very complex and causal factors can vary widely,” said Mr Gerald Edmunds,
National Executive Director of Headache Australia.

Mr Edmunds says severe headaches are categorised as cluster, symptomatic, tension or migraine headaches.

When it comes to causes, personal and emotional issues are more likely to trigger severe headaches in women than men. Over half of women surveyed list personal
issues as the cause. Emotional causes account for nearly 60 percent of severe headaches in women and only 39 percent in men.

“There are a wide range of factors which can trigger headaches, apart from stress and tension, derived from emotional involvement in issues,” said Mr Edmunds.

On the upside, women are more likely to receive sympathy for severe headaches in the workplace. Sixty-three percent of women say they receive sympathetic
treatment in the workplace, but this drops to 46 percent for men.

Additionally, the survey reveals that almost nine-in-10 people who suffer from severe headaches are gambling with their health by not seeking specialist medical
attention for severe headaches.

“This is a cause for concern as headache is a complex condition,” said Mr Edmunds “Severe headaches can be your body’s way of letting you know that something is
wrong. It is important for anyone who is frequently experiencing severe headaches to consult a doctor to rule out the possibility of conditions such as high blood
pressure, stroke or brain tumours.”

The Pfizer Australia Health Report research found that around 70 percent of Australians have little knowledge of headache treatments.

“Headache management is a great challenge. You may need to try a number of treatment options before you discover what works best for you,” said Mr Edmunds.
“While there is still no absolute cure, various treatments can provide a huge relief. Some medications are given once the headache has begun and others are taken
daily to reduce the frequency of attacks.”

Key tips from Headache Australia in managing severe headaches are:

• If you recognize the signals of an impending headache, stop what you are doing and relax your body.
• Take your prescription medication or some over-the-counter medication.
• Lying down in a dark and quiet room, placing a cold or warm cloth on the forehead, or taking a brisk walk in fresh air may help alleviate symptoms.
• Don’t be afraid to take time out from work and family to deal with headache. Remember, if you need help, just ask.

More information on headache management, see www.headacheaustralia.org.au. Headache Australia is exhibiting at the Pharmacy Guild Health and Beauty Expo at
Darling Harbour from 17 - 19 June 2005.

To assist with educating the public about severe headaches, Headache Australia has collaborated with Pfizer Australia to produce this month’s edition of the Pfizer Australia Health Report. Filled with useful information, free copies can be requested by phoning 1800 675 229 or by visiting www.healthreport.com.au where people can also sign-up for email alerts of future editions.

The findings on Australian perceptions of severe headaches are based on responses from 1245 Australians aged 18 years and over. The research was conducted in December 2004 by independent consultants Stollznow Research. Pfizer Australia is the nation’s leading research-based health care company, investing over $A42m in local research and development annually. It discovers, develops, manufactures and markets innovative medical treatments for both humans and animals. For more information, visit the links on this website.

NB: INTERVIEWS WITH LOCAL SPOKESPEOPLE ARE ALSO AVAILABLE IN EACH
STATE/TERRITORY.