Health / Wellness
Six Reasons why your Head Hurts
Did you know that one in 20 adults “has a headache every – or nearly every – day?” Health writer Jessica Migala, in a recent AARP The Magazine article, tells us the how and why of some of the “surprising factors that can trigger headaches.” Please take a look.
- “Dehydration – Fluid levels affect the concentration of minerals in and around cells, and your brain may respond to those fluctuations with pain. Research has found that drinking at least 16 ounces of water may help to relieve headaches within 30 to 60 minutes.
- Caffeine Withdrawal – Breaks in your routine, including the timing of your caffeine consumption, can disrupt your brain’s equilibrium, leading to an achy withdrawal.
- Sleep Deprivation – Snoring, insomnia and sleep apnea are all risk factors for chronic daily headaches. If you have head pain, prioritize sleep and maintain a regular schedule for when you go to bed, and when you wake up, even on the weekend.
- Barometric Headache – It’s not your imagination: One study found that migraine sufferers had a 28 percent higher risk of an episode on days when there is lightening.
- Seasonal Headache – Aches that crop up just at specific times of the year may be related to seasonal allergies, which can cause a flood of inflammation and may increase your chances of getting a headache. A stuffy nose may indicate a sinus headache, but may also be masking a misdiagnosed migraine.
- Muscle-Tension Headache – Stress can lead you to clamp your jaw or sit with a tight neck or shoulders. Try adjusting your posture, dropping your jaw and doing some neck rolls.”
Just remember: “Any headache accompanied by weakness, vision loss, balance problems or slurred speech require immediate physician care. Sudden pain that feels like the worst headache of your life – also described as a thunderclap – is a RED flag that can signal an aneurysm. Call 911.”
Information Source: AARP The Magazine at www.aarp.org
