headaches
Treating a headache isn’t always easy. You must be your own detective. The best way to monitor headaches is to track them. Write down when you get one and what you were doing or what you were eating beforehand and what helped. Here are some ideas you might try to reduce some of those headaches and some of the pain.
What causes headaches?
According to healthline.com, most headaches are caused by dietary or lifestyle factors such as lack of sleep, dehydration, caffeine withdrawal, alcohol use, nutrient deficiency and undereating. However, sometimes they can be contributed to more serious health issues such as tumors or blood clots. People with obesity, sleep disorders, smokers and those people with high caffeine intake are more at risk for headaches. They also can be hereditary.
According to healthline.com, most headaches are caused by dietary or lifestyle factors such as lack of sleep, dehydration, caffeine withdrawal, alcohol use, nutrient deficiency and undereating. However, sometimes they can be contributed to more serious health issues such as tumors or blood clots. People with obesity, sleep disorders, smokers and those people with high caffeine intake are more at risk for headaches. They also can be hereditary.
What is the difference between a regular headache and a migraine headache?
Severity of a headache does not mean it's a migraine. A migraine headache is a neurological disease or brain imbalance that also causes other symptoms that regular headaches do not. These could include sensitivity to light, nausea and vomiting, stomach upset, abdominal pain, loss of appetite, dizziness, blurred vision, numbness, tingling or weakness in rare cases.
When are hormonal headaches the worst and do they ever go away?
Right before or during a woman's period (up to two days before through three days during) hormonal headaches may get worse with movement, light, smells, or sound. Symptoms may last for a few hours, but they'll likely last days. Hormone-related headaches and migraines become more frequent and severe during perimenopause — the years leading up to menopause — because hormone levels rise and fall unevenly. However, a rise in female hormones during pregnancy can briefly relieve migraines. For some women, migraines improve once their menstrual periods stop, but tension headaches may get worse. New research suggests that hormones play an equally important role in causing migraines among men.
Right before or during a woman's period (up to two days before through three days during) hormonal headaches may get worse with movement, light, smells, or sound. Symptoms may last for a few hours, but they'll likely last days. Hormone-related headaches and migraines become more frequent and severe during perimenopause — the years leading up to menopause — because hormone levels rise and fall unevenly. However, a rise in female hormones during pregnancy can briefly relieve migraines. For some women, migraines improve once their menstrual periods stop, but tension headaches may get worse. New research suggests that hormones play an equally important role in causing migraines among men.
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Can you get headaches when the weather changes?
According to lifestrong.com, weather changes can produce a barometric pressure headache or migraine symptoms 50-70% of the time. Barometric pressure which changes the weight of the air can disrupt the balance of fluid in your sinuses and lead to head pain, according to the Cleveland Clinic. Sunny days, cold weather, lightning storms, and stormy days can be factors in developing headaches but may accompany other headache triggers as well.
Is there any way to prevent barometric pressure headache or migraine?
According to the Cleveland Clinic, even though you can't control the weather, you can stay away from foods that cause migraines, like those that contain caffeine, monosodium glutamate (MSG) and nitrates since those foods can be triggers. Dr. Estemalik says there are three over-the-counter supplements that he recommends: Magnesium Oxide (also found in bananas, avocados, fish and leafy greens); Vitamin B2 (also found in milk, eggs, nuts, enriched flour and green vegetables), and Coenzyme Q10.
According to the Cleveland Clinic, even though you can't control the weather, you can stay away from foods that cause migraines, like those that contain caffeine, monosodium glutamate (MSG) and nitrates since those foods can be triggers. Dr. Estemalik says there are three over-the-counter supplements that he recommends: Magnesium Oxide (also found in bananas, avocados, fish and leafy greens); Vitamin B2 (also found in milk, eggs, nuts, enriched flour and green vegetables), and Coenzyme Q10.
How can you tell if you have a tension headache?
According to the Mayo Clinic, symptoms of a tension-type headache include: dull aching head pain, sensation of tightness or pressure across the forehead or on the sides and back of the head and tenderness in the scalp, neck and shoulder muscles.
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What are some natural cures for headaches?
- Drink water: Dehydration is a common cause of headaches.
- Take Magnesium: Supplementing with 600 mg of magnesium citrate may be effective in reducing headaches for people with migraines.
- Limit Alcohol: One-third of the cases of headaches is due to alcohol since alcohol increases inflammation, dehydration and widening of the blood vessels.
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- Get Enough Sleep: It is recommended that people get 7-9 hours of sleep since poor sleep quality and insomnia increases the frequency and severity of headaches.
- Diet – Avoid foods high in histamine: These foods, which could cause migraines, include aged cheeses, yogurt, sour cream, tomatoes, eggplant, spinach, tuna fish, vinegar, tomato ketchup, fermented foods, beer, wine, sausages, salami, cured meats, sour dough bread and vinegar. There is no test to determine which histamine food might be a problem other than conducting a self-elimination diet to identify the possible troubling foods. Journaling what you were eating before getting the headache is a good way to determine if there is a food that you may want to eliminate. Learn more regarding a Low-Histamine diet.
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- Reduce Tension with Yoga: Practicing yoga reduces the intensity and frequency of headaches.
- Avoid Strong Smells: Migraines can also be caused by strong smells, such as perfumes, cigarette smoke and strongly scented foods.
- Try a Herbal Remedy: Certain herbs, like curcumin, chamomile and butterbur may also reduce headache symptoms.
- Avoid Nitrates and Nitrites: Nitrates and nitrites are food preservatives found in hot dogs, sausages, bacon and processed meats to prevent bacterial growth. They expand blood vessels and trigger headaches in some people. Choose nitrate-free products.
- Take Ginger: Three studies, reported by the NIH, helped to reduce migraine pain. You could consider taking a ginger supplement but better yet is drinking ginger tea since it also increases hydration.
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- Drink Caffeinated Coffee or Tea: Caffeine improves mood, alertness and constricts blood vessels that help headaches and increases the effectiveness of ibuprofen and acetaminophen. However, caffeine withdrawals has been shown to increase headaches if a person drinks a lot of caffeinated beverages and then suddenly stops.
- Try Essential Oils: Diffuse or rub any of the following essential oils with a carrier oil on your temples or wrists: peppermint, lavender, or eucalyptus.
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- Exercise: Reduce headache frequency is to engage in physical activity. Increase your steps every day to make a difference.
- Try a B-Complex Vitamin: Some B vitamins have a protective effect against headaches such as Vitamin B2, B6 and B12 are protective against headaches and are safe and water soluble. The Migraine Institute states that there are the three vitamin deficiencies related to migraine headaches are Vitamin D, Vitamin B2, and Magnesium. Read their article “Want to Get Rid of Migraines?”
- Use Cold Compresses to Relieve Pain: Applying cold compresses to your neck or head decreases inflammation for some kinds of headaches caused by nitrate medication for heart conditions.
- Consider taking CoQ10: According to National Library of Medicine, six studies found that treatment with 30-800 mg of CoQ10 per day reduced migraine frequency, severity, and length.
- Try Acupuncture: Acupuncture has reduced symptoms of headaches for people with migraines in numerous studies.