"Chronic headaches are relentless"… It is said that 8 out of 10 office workers suffer from them...

I also sometimes have headaches... I think it's primary.ㅠ

Secondary headaches are associated with serious conditions, so you should visit the hospital quickly.

I heard that Kang Su-yeon used to have really bad headaches.

It was a secondary headache, huh?ㅠ

 

78% of office workers experience work disruption due to headaches

Headache, distinguish between primary and secondary types

Unidentified cause of migraines... Prevention is important

I think I take about 6 to 8 pills every month. I don't think I've ever considered that I need to treat my migraines.

Mr. Kim, a three-year employee, always carries anti-inflammatory painkillers such as acetaminophen and ibuprofen in his bag. He said, "I experience severe headaches during my menstrual period, so I keep medication just in case," and added, "I've been dealing with this for years, but since many people around me also suffer from headaches, I never thought about going to the hospital."

 

Eight out of ten office workers have experienced disruptions to their work due to headaches. This is based on a survey conducted by the Korean Headache Society in collaboration with the office worker platform 'Remember,' targeting 500 office workers. According to the survey results, 78% of office workers experienced work disruptions due to headaches, and 103 workers, or 20%, reported experiencing headaches more than eight days a month. While many office workers suffer discomfort from headaches, only 4.4% actually visit a hospital for treatment.

 

Therefore, the medical community emphasizes that since the suspected diseases vary depending on the nature of the headache, it is important to visit a hospital if you experience frequent headaches.

 

Headaches are broadly divided into primary and secondary headaches. Primary headaches are common headaches that occur without any specific abnormality in the brain, often characterized by a throbbing sensation in the temporal region, such as the temples.

 

According to the analysis results of headache patterns by the Korean Headache Society, among office workers complaining of headaches, 68.8% (334 people) suffered from 'migraine,' which is also classified as a primary headache.

 

Factors that trigger migraines include △stress, △caffeine, △alcohol consumption, and △sudden changes in temperature and atmospheric pressure. In women, headaches may also occur due to premenstrual syndrome.

 

The prevailing theory in the academic community is that migraines occur when blood vessels passing through the scalp repeatedly constrict and dilate, releasing pain-inducing substances.

 

On the other hand, secondary headaches refer to headaches caused by abnormalities in the brain. Causes include brain hemorrhage, brain tumors, and meningitis. In this case, the pain intensity is much stronger than that of primary headaches. Especially in cases of headache caused by meningitis, there is a feeling of stiffness in the neck and sometimes seizures accompany it.

 

In cases of secondary headaches, MRI or CT scans are used to identify underlying conditions, and removing the brain causes that trigger the headache can eliminate the headache itself. Professor Kim Myung-jin of Gachon University Gil Medical Center Neurosurgery said, "Ninety percent of patients who visit the hospital for headaches are diagnosed with primary headaches," but he also emphasized, "Secondary headaches are associated with diseases that have a high mortality rate, so it is most important to visit the hospital promptly."

 

Regarding the treatment of primary headaches such as tension headaches and migraines, it was stated that "since these headaches occur without a specific cause, there is no treatment that eliminates a fundamental cause." It was also emphasized that "triggers for migraines vary from person to person, including scents, noise, and certain activities," and that "individuals should identify why their migraines occur and try to eliminate those factors through lifestyle changes for prevention."

 

However, she added, "Even if there is no abnormality in the brain, many patients experience severe and recurrent migraines that significantly disrupt daily life." She further explained, "In such cases, it is difficult to resolve the issue with general painkillers alone, so we often recommend specialized migraine medications that can be prescribed and taken."