By: Matthias C.
Are you suffering from constant headaches? Headaches are a common ailment, but research has uncovered treatments that may help your problem almost disappear.
According to the National Headache Foundation (NHF) tension
headaches affect nearly 78% of the adult population. 13% of the
population suffers from migraines. Because the causes of
migraines varies greatly, what relieves a migraine in one person
may trigger an attack in another. The suggestions here are
guidelines for those who suffer regularly from tension headaches
which may have an identifiable physical cause.
WATCH WHAT YOU EAT
Some headache sufferers notice a connection with eating or
drinking foods with aspartame. For those who are sensitive to the
chemical it may cause blood vessels to expand in the brain and
trigger a headache.
Caffeine is used to treat headaches. It's proprieties can assist
pain medication in providing relief and can be found in
medications to treat migraines. However, too much caffeine can
have a 'rebound' effect and actually cause headaches. If you
suffer from regular headaches you should avoid daily use of
caffeinated beverages such as coffee and certain sodas.
According to the McKinley Health Center, avoiding tobacco can
also reduce headaches.
Skipping meals may cause headaches in some people, so eating
regular meals may prevent headaches in these individuals.
REDUCE THE STRESS
Getting enough sleep is important for everyone. If you suffer
from tension headaches you may find getting your eight hours
every night reduces the amount or intensity of your headaches. On
the other hand, oversleeping can bring on a headache if you don't
get up at your regular time (such as on the weekend or during
holidays).
Some headaches also seem to be aggravated by too much sun.
Excessive exercise outdoors and lack of hydration can lead to
headaches. Keep eyes shaded and be sure to drink plenty of water
when outdoors.
Not surprisingly it was recently found that women wearing tight
ponytails had an increased risk of tension headaches. Releasing
or loosening the hair and performing a brief massage to the head
can bring almost immediate relief.
MEDICATE
What you may think is a sinus headache may actually be a
migraine. A consultation with your doctor may determine if you
should switch to a migraine medication.
According to the NHF, tension headaches caused by stress should
respond to reducing the stress or use of over-the-counter
analgesics. However, if headaches occur almost daily you need to
look for ways of dealing with the stress and discuss other
options with your doctor.
As with caffeine, regular daily use of over the counter
medications can actually cause headaches.
If headaches occur for long periods, are unusually intense or do
not respond to pain medication after several days you should seek
treatment and diagnosis from a health care professional.
Leading a healthy and active lifestyle has many health benefits,
including a reduction of tension-type headaches. Combining a
healthy lifestyle with avoidance of triggers may help you find
relief from tension-type headaches.
The information contained in this article is for educational purposes
only and is not intended to medically diagnose, treat or cure any
disease. Consult a health care practitioner before beginning any
health care program.
