CHICAGO, Nov. 6 /PRNewswire/ -- Millions of Americans enjoy caffeine, in one form or another, every day. But conflicting news stories and studies have caused many to question how much caffeine is too much, and specifically, whether people can safely use caffeine-containing medicines to treat headache.
To help answer these questions and clear up confusion
about caffeine, the National Headache Foundation (NHF) has developed a new
informational brochure, New Perspectives on Caffeine and Headache,
that offers new ways to help people understand the relationship between
caffeine and headache and make a well-informed decision about treatment.
Consumers can also learn ways to measure their caffeine consumption and
gain a better understanding of the role caffeine plays in treating
headaches.
"We wanted to bring consumers the opinions of experts to help them
make the right decisions about treating their headaches," says
Suzanne Simons, executive director of the National Headache Foundation. The New Perspectives on Caffeine and Headache brochure addresses
the science behind caffeine's headache-fighting properties. By increasing
the production of stomach acid, caffeine helps the body absorb headache
medicines more quickly. Caffeine constricts certain blood vessels, which
reduces blood flow and eases pressure associated with certain headaches,
such as painful migraines. The brochure offers a quiz to help determine how much caffeine should
be consumed on a daily basis, a list of the most common sources of
caffeine and a chart to gain a better idea of weekly caffeine intake.
Commons questions about caffeine are also addressed, such as: This brochure was based on the findings of a panel of medical experts,
convened by the NHF to examine the published material on the relationship
between caffeine and headache. This panel agreed with published studies
that show caffeine, when combined with aspirin and acetaminophen, enhances
the pain relieving power of these over-the-counter headache medicines by
as much as 40 percent. In addition, the panel reviewed safety data and
concluded that caffeine, when used properly, is not addictive and poses no
health risk for most people. "Our hope is that the findings of this panel and the information
in the brochure will help reduce any confusion headache sufferers may have
regarding what triggers their headaches and how to treat them," says
Simons. According to Jerome Goldstein, MD, director of the San Francisco
Headache Clinic and chair of the expert caffeine panel, caffeine offers
another benefit. "Because medications that contain caffeine work
faster, there is less likelihood that people will need to take more of the
medicine, and the risks of unwanted side effects are reduced." To order a copy of New Perspectives on Caffeine and Headache,
call the National Headache Foundation at 888-NHF-5552 or visit their
website at http://www.headaches.org/. SOURCE: National Headache Foundation ST: Illinois
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