Doctors Warn Frequent Headaches Need Care as Brazil Marks Awareness Day

Overview

• Marking the National Day to Combat Headache on Tuesday, medical groups urged anyone with three or more headache days a month for three months to seek a specialist under the “3 é Demais” campaign.
• Experts flagged urgent warning signs using the MINAS checklist, which covers a new or changing pattern, a thunderclap start, neurological symptoms, pain triggered by exertion or after age 50, and systemic signs like fever or weight loss.
• The World Health Organization estimates about 40% of people worldwide live with headaches and about 15% have migraine, which ranks among the top causes of disability and affects women more often.
• Clinicians cautioned against frequent self‑medication, noting that regular use of painkillers without guidance can cause rebound headaches and make pain chronic, which often requires supervised withdrawal and preventive care.
• Specialists advised lifestyle steps such as better sleep, hydration, and trigger control along with personalized plans that may include medicines, nerve blocks, neurostimulation, botulinum toxin, or acupuncture to cut attacks and limit work and daily life losses.