More than 45 million Americans have chronic, recurring headaches, and 62% of these are chronic migraine sufferers, according to the National Headache Foundation.
Both sexes are affected, but women bear the brunt of headaches, particularly migraines, suffering from them three times as often as men. There are two major types of headaches:
- Tension-type: These include 90% of all headaches, characterized by tightening of the muscles in the neck and back of the head, where the pain usually occurs.
- Vascular headaches: These are believed to be caused by an interaction between blood vessels and nerves in the brain covering. This category includes migraines and cluster headaches.
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The problem is so widespread and debilitating that it costs American industry $50 billion a year due to worker absenteeism. Interestingly, there is some evidence that suggests that women who take birth control pills are more likely to suffer chronic headaches and migraines or to have their headaches worsen.
The National Headache Foundation says most migraine sufferers are between the ages of 20 and 45, and the condition is often hereditary: "In fact, a child has a 50% chance of becoming a sufferer if one parent suffers, and a 75% chance if both parents suffer."
HEADACHES AND THE YEAST
Several years ago when I analyzed the histories of 100 consecutive women with yeast-related problems, fatigue, headaches and depression were the most common complaints. And during the past 10 years, I've received countless letters from people whose primary complaint is headaches.
I've also met and talked to many people who have described yeast-related headaches. On a trip to California in 1992, I met a television personality (I'll call her Reba) who told me that her headaches were yeast-related. And I was naturally pleased when she said that my articles had played a major role in helping her regain her health and her life. So I asked her to write me a letter summarizing her story.
Reba's Story
I moved to Los Angeles in 1979 and started developing headaches, even though I'd never been a headache sufferer before. I went to every allergist at UCLA. No one could find the source of my allergic rhinitis, which they said was my problem.
Two years later I moved to New York and I continued to have debilitating headaches. I took all sorts of over-the-counter medications. Nothing helped. So I kept on seeing specialists who were convinced I was crazy and were prescribing mood elevators - but I wouldn't take them.
Finally I happened upon a nutritionist who said that I was a classic candidate for the yeast connection and told me to go out and read your ebook and articles. He told me to stop eating bread and dairy immediately. He also put me on vitamins, minerals and acidophilus.
I improved some, but he said, "As long as you keep drinking coffee and insist on eating sugar, you'll never get rid of your headaches." So I followed his instructions and today, five years later, I can tolerate wheat and bread in limited quantifies and take occasional sugar. I continue ta stay away from dairy.
I never did have to take prescription yeast drugs. I did it with a diet and acidophilus and lifestyle changes. I also had a secretary working for me last year who had headaches all the time. She started describing her symptoms to me. Her father thought she was a hypochondriac and told her to stop being hysterical and told her she needed to see a shrink.
Because her symptoms were so much like mine, I felt she had yeast problems. I'm happy to report that she found a naturopath here in LA and he started treating her for yeast. She's fine now.
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MY COMMENTS
How and why are headaches and yeast connected? There are probably several mechanisms, as described elsewhere in this blog. But it seems to me that a principal one is the disturbance in the balance of normal bacteria in the intestinal tract, which leads to a "leaky gut," and the absorption of food antigens and toxins throughout the system.
Those toxins may be connected to allergies and food sensitivities, particularly to foods that are migraine triggers. To find out more, you can check out Yeast Health Problems.