What a Headache!

Headaches are such a pain...literally! But how can you prevent them?

Researchers believe the tension-type headaches are most likely caused by changes among certain brain chemicals.

Here are some factors that may trigger these brain chemical changes:

• stress
• depression
• anxiety
• lack of sleep or changes in sleep routine
• skipping meals
• poor posture
• working in an awkward postion or holding one position for a long time
• lack of exercise
• hormonal changes
• overuse of headache medication

(or as I like to say...life!) So, what can we do about these triggers?

Here are some ways to prevent tension headaches:

• avoid excess caffeine
• eat healthy foods; don't skip meals, especially breakfast
• stay physically active; even just taking a walk could help the way you feel
• follow a regular sleep schedule
• reduce stress by planning ahead and organizing your day
• learn a relaxation technique (ex. deep breathing)
• improve your posture

And if all else fails, a couple glasses of wine (or your favorite beverage) may be the cure. But, then again, that may give you another type of headache!!!

Information provided by Mayo Clinic Health Solutions