Headaches are one of the most common health issues we humans face. Most of us will have had at least a few headaches in our life, and as you will know, they can range from being mildly annoying to excruciatingly painful.
If you’re prone to headaches, it can be useful to work out what is causing them, which is why we’re going to take a look at the 6 most common causes of headaches right now:
1. Stress
This one is a real shocker, right? Did you know that, according to recent research, every 10% increase in your stress level causes you to experience tension headaches 6.3% more times and migraines 4.3% more times? Stress can kill you. Stress causes the muscles in your neck and shoulders to tighten up, and this can cause tension to form in those areas, eventually spreading to the head. If you suffer from tension headaches, it is, therefore, very likely that you are stressed out, and doing what you can to relax, from meditation to massage, will help you to experience fewer episodes of headaches.
2. Diet
The food you put in your body can cause headaches and migraines if you aren’t careful. Foods that are commonly known to cause migraine headaches include cheese, chocolate, beans and pulses, citrus, and anything containing MSG. If you’re a regular migraine sufferer, try eliminating these foods one by one so that you can isolate which are causing the problem and start living a life free of migraine pain.
3. Hearing Aids
Improperly used hearing aids, which have not been correctly calibrated for your use can cause headaches. It is actually one of the most common hearing aid side effects, so if you’re a hearing aid wearer, and you regularly suffer from headaches, it might be worth a visit to the audiologist.
4. Alcohol
Anyone who’s ever drunk a glass of wine too much will know that alcohol is very effective at causing headaches. This is partially attributed to alcohol dehydrating the body, which is a known headache trigger, but also because alcohol itself is a toxin. Stabbing pains or dull aches that return throughout the day are the most common kinds of headaches caused by alcohol, and if you experience them, try drinking more water alongside your regular pain relief.
5. The Weather
Atmospheric conditions can actually cause headaches, and this is more likely to happen in the spring or fall seasons although no one is sure why. Things like bright sunlight, sudden drops in temperature, humidity levels, and even pollen counts, can all contribute to your headache, and unfortunately, there is not much you can do about any of them. If your headaches are caused by the atmosphere, be sure to always carry some pain relief with you.
6. Sleepless Nights
If you don’t get enough sleep the night before, there is a good chance that you will wake up with a banging headache. This is also true if you get too much sleep! Sleep is so important for your health, and when you don’t get enough, your body can come out of whack in a whole host of ways, this includes giving you a tension headache. Again, no one knows why this is but it is a real problem, so try to get your 8 hours!
I hope this helps you better manage your headaches in the future.
Photos courtesy of Photo by Andrea Piacquadio
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