N4L 187: "Splitting" by Amanda Ellison

Amanda Ellison, a leading neuroscientist and physiologist at Durham University in the UK, explains head pain in her book Splitting: The Inside Story of Headaches.

What is the point of pain, especially the kind we suffer from headaches? Ellison addresses this age-old question and, combining humor with wide-ranging research, she also defines all kinds of headaches—from a “brain freeze” to much more serious cluster headaches—and their possible remedies.

Those with a science background will not be disappointed. Ellison serves up loads of research and technical terms (enough to give the less scientific a headache) to explain how different parts of the brain talk to each other. Best of all, her book is packed with practical advice and information any headache sufferer can use. Learn what causes migraines, how sinus pain happens, and whether to reach for the painkillers or try some other remedy.

QUOTES FROM ELLISON

• “Even from [an early age, we seem to attribute our headaches to emotional causes, and the biggest of these is stress.”
• "The most common fix for minor nagging headache comes out of your tap."
• “Posture, bad diet, dehydration, alcohol consumption, lack of sleep, and the wrong kind of exercise all put the body and particularly the head, brain, and neck region under stress, leading to tension headache.”
• “Cluster headache is four times more common in men than women.”
• “Prodrome symptoms [are] quite obvious, including pronounced yawning, drowsiness, food craving, adversity to light, increased thirst or blurred vision.”

RECOMMENDATIONS

Avoid headaches by lightening up and getting (back) in touch with your fun side!

• Listen to Nonfiction4Life Episode #76 with Dave Crenshaw discussing The Power of Having Fun: How Meaningful Breaks Help You Get More Done and buy his book.
• Read Catherine Price’s latest book, The Power of Fun: How to Feel Alive Again.

Connect with us!

• Facebook
• Instagram
• Twitter
• YouTube
• Website

Special thanks...

• Music Credit
• Sound Editing Credit