8 Headache Triggers To Avoid


If you deal with chronic headaches or migraines, you have likely learned that some headaches can be triggered by environmental, food or activity factors. Here we have listed some of the most common triggers for headaches that you should try to avoid if you are looking to reduce the frequency of your headaches.

umbrella-1031328_6401. Weather. Changes in temperature and air pressure and cause headaches in some people. Cold fronts and barometric pressure changes sometimes trigger pain and can lead to migraines. Although you can’t change the weather, you can monitor it and be extra careful with other triggers to try to avoid getting one.

2. Stress and Anxiety. Did you know that tension headaches are the most common type of headache? They are often described as having a weight or tight band around the head and often include pain the the neck and shoulders. We know it’s difficult to say “don’t be stressed”, but consider taking breaks throughout your day to do some deep breathing and center yourself. Stress and anxiety can take it’s toll on your body so the best defense is to fight it with calming activities.

3. Electronics. The glare from your computer screen can be a trigger for headaches and once you have a headache or migraine, can make the pain worse. If you are sitting at a desk all day it is a good idea to take breaks and walk around so you are not staring at a screen all day long.cup-939479_640

4. Dehydration. When you feel a headache coming on, it is a good idea to drink a glass of water. Often we forget to stay hydrated and one of the first symptoms of that is to get a headache. Make sure you are getting the recommended amount of water every day. Some people say 8, 8oz glasses of water daily, and other people say to drink half of your body weight in ounces daily. What matters is that you are drinking the right amount for your body everyday.

5. Strong Smells. Do you wear cologne or perfume everyday? The smell of strong odors can trigger migraines, and the smell doesn’t have to be foul, it can just be powerful. If you do not wear any perfumes, the smell from other people around you can be a trigger as well.

6. Smoking. Even if you are not a smoker yourself, being in the vicinity of a smoker can set off a headache. The nicotine in secondhand smoke causes blood vessels in your brain to narrow. If you are living with chronic headaches and smoke daily, consider giving up this habit to reduce your likelihood of triggering a headache.

7. Medications. Some medications can have a side effect of headaches. If you are prescribed daily medications make sure you know the side effects and talk to your doctor to see if there is any correlation between the two.

typing-849806_6408. Posture. If you are sitting at a desk all day, or in a vehicle all day, you could be triggering headaches with poor posture. We tend to hunch over and forget about keeping good posture all day long, so try using a back pillow to keep your spine in the correct posture, and make sure your area is ergonomic.

If you are suffering with chronic headaches, the physicians at Non-Surgical Orthopaedics may be able to help you decrease the amount of days you suffer every month. By injecting Botox around the head and scalp, patients can feel relief from chronic migraines within a few days and that may last up to six months. Contact our office at (770) 421-1420 for more information. Check out our website on this Botox procedure here.

Sources:
http://painmanagementtrends.com/2015/02/headache-triggers-to-avoid/
http://www.tylenol.com/symptoms/headaches/causes

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