Head's Up!

by: AndreaDow
Total views: 383
Word Count: 605

January 28th

During my pregnancy, I have had a couple of months with some nasty headaches. I know that I can chalk it up to fluctuating hormones and that they are temporary. But what about countless others that suffer from headaches and cannot seem to figure out a cause? Thanks to Health Magazine writer, Alicia Potter, we have the top 5 causes of headaches and what you can do to stay headache free!

The most common culprits:

1. Perfume: strong odors do a number on our nose nerve cells. These cells then activate our nervous system which is linked to head pain. Even though the scents that trigger these headaches are considered "pleasant", the strength of the odors take over and we end up in pain. The best thing to do if you suffer from these types of headaches is to stay clear of any scented or fragrance products. Chose detergent, deodorant and soaps that are fragrance free.

2. Weather: you do not have to have aches in your joints to know a weather change is on the horizon. Headache prone individuals seem to be especially sensitive to changes in barometric pressure, humidity, rising temperatures, lightening and cloudy skies. Apparently the changes in the weather trigger chemical and electrical changes in the brain that can irritate nerves that are linked to our pain centers. On bad-weather days, you may want to apply ice packs on your eyes in the morning. You may want to pre-treat with *medicine a couple of days before weather changes occur. Check www.weather.com and look under the "aches and pains" forecast under Healthy Living for the latest in weather patterns.

3. Earrings, Headbands & Ponytails: the muscles around the head do not have pain receptors, but their connective tissue does. If your ponytail is pulled too tight, you can end up irritating the muscle system. Hats, headbands and heavy earrings can also cause problems. To prevent these types of headaches, reposition your ponytail throughout the day and make sure it is not too tight. Individuals with thick or heavy hair are more prone to this type of headache. Keep the fancy up-do's and big earrings for your evenings out when you will be sporting the high fashion for a limited time.

4. Hunger: dieting, fasting and skipping meals can all lead to horrible headaches. It is no wonder that nutrition experts recommend we eat throughout the day to keep our blood sugar levels constant. The exact mechanism of a hunger headache is unknown, but it is believed to be caused by low blood sugar stimulating certain nerve pathways that lead to pain. To solve this headache problem, of course, you need to eat! Instead of going for a high sugar snack that will eventually plummet your blood sugar levels, eat a snack that is a mix of protein and complex carbohydrates. Foods rich in magnesium (think greens, beans and seeds) and riboflavin (think dairy products, greens, lean meats and enriched breads and cereals) may also help alleviate headache symptoms. If you suffer from headaches, stay away from cheese, chocolate, lunch meats, caffeine and additives like MSG.

5. Sex: these headaches typically last a few minutes to an hour and occur just before orgasm. The culprit is likely a build-up of pressure in the head and neck muscles. Other activities like running, coughing and sneezing can also lead to these "stress" headaches. I guess you can use the "not tonight I don't want to make my headache any worse" line going forward!

*Talk with your doctor about appropriate medications to take for your headaches. You can also consider consulting with a headache specialist.

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