Diet Mind Spirit

Dehydration

Dehydration is a major cause of headaches. Adults should be drinking about 8 to 10 glasses of water a day for proper hydration. Sorry, coffee and sodas don’t count, it must be water.

Pain medications

Ironically, people who take a lot of pain medications on a regular basis can experience more headaches. Both over the counter pain relievers and prescription pain relievers are the culprits.

Odor

Strong odors from perfumes, new carpet, new car, smoke, or fumes can cause headaches.

Caffeine

Too much caffeine can cause headaches. Caffeine usually helps relieve headaches, however, when it is taken in large doses it does the opposite.

Lots of Stress

Stress is a big culprit, especially chronic stress. People who tend to push themselves beyond the limit tend to experience more headaches. Physical activity and taking breaks can help relieve stress, which in turn will help reduce headaches.

Watching TV or using the computer

Excessive use of computers or watching TV for extended periods of time can cause headaches.

Sinuses

Dry Sinuses or congested sinuses can cause headaches.

Blood sugar

Imbalances in blood sugar, especially low blood sugar can cause headaches. Imbalances in blood sugar can be corrected by eating adequate protein. Protein helps to stabilize blood sugar levels.

Food

Certain foods that contain a lot of tyramine (amino acid) can cause headaches. Examples include: peanuts, chocolate, and red wine. Other foods that contain nitrates can also cause headaches. Examples include: salami, hot dogs, and sausages. Although not as common, diary and wheat can also cause headaches in certain individuals.

Weather

Changes in weather can cause headaches.

Altitude

Higher altitudes can cause headaches. Many mountain climbers experience headaches as they reach higher altitudes. Even a visit to a town or city that is at a higher elevation than when you currently live can cause a headache.

Hormones

Changes in hormone levels can also bring upon headaches. Women are obviously more susceptible to this type of headache.

Sleep

Very little sleep or sudden changes in sleep patterns can precipitate headaches.

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This entry was posted on Friday, December 28th, 2007 at 12:43 am and is filed under articles, body, diet, education, fitness, general, health, news. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.