Health & Wellness

Here Are 6 Reasons That Might Trigger Your Headache. Learn How To Avoid Them

In the modern world, most people experience headaches at some point in their lives. The headache triggers trouble the head and the surrounding areas and can even cause problems in other parts of the body. Hence, you will require proper pain medications to help you go with your day and work effectively.

There are various kinds of headaches with their own set of symptoms and reasons, with specific treatments for each.

Here are the top six headache triggers:

1. Problems in Sinus:

The root of sinus headaches is usually some infection or allergy. This infection swells up, making more mucus, due to which the channels that drain them might get blocked. The buildup pressure in your sinuses causes sinus headaches.

sinus headache
Headache Triggers : sinus headache

Ways to Avoid:

To avoid sinus headaches, you can try these self-care remedies-

  • Drink an adequate amount of water
  • Breathe in steam and moist air
  • Use a saline drop or spray
  • Take antibiotics
  • Consult with a sinus specialist

2. Migraine:

Migraine headaches occur when supersensitive nerve endings in the brain create pain. The specific reason for migraine headaches is not yet known in medical science. In some cases, genetic features may also be a reason for migraines.

migraine headache
Headache Triggers: migraine headache

Migraine headaches are severe headaches that cause extreme pain, usually on one side of the head. Some possible reasons that trigger migraine are:

  • Tiredness
  • Lack of sleep
  • Soldier and Neck tension
  • Poor posture
  • Physical overexertion
  • Low blood sugar
  • Jet lag
  • Irregular meal times
  • Dehydration

Ways to Avoid:

Proper treatment can help during migraine headaches. You must take adequate care of yourself and understand how to deal with migraines when it strikes. Since migraines are a result of body weakness, you need time to recover with proper sleep.

The following activities might be of help when you want to avoid migraine headaches:

  • Whenever a migraine hits, find a calm environment.
  • Regularly take a sound sleep without any distraction.
  • Develop healthy eating habits. Maintain regular mealtime and don’t skip meals
  • Do exercises regularly because it releases certain chemicals that block pain signals to your brain.
  • Understand why you develop migraine pain and try to avoid it

ALSO READ: How to Cure Migraine Permanently

3. Cluster Headache:

Cluster headaches happen suddenly. It generally reaches full force quickly within 5 or 10 minutes and usually causes a one-sided pain having a burning or piercing quality. Cluster headaches frequently happen for two weeks to three months.

When a cluster headache happens, you may notice discomfort or a mild burning sensation, swollen eyes, redness and watering of eyes, congested nose, warm face, sweating, and sensitivity to light.

cluster headache
Headache Triggers: cluster headache

The primary causes of cluster headaches are:

  • Cigarette smoking
  • Alcohol
  • Strong smells

Cluster headaches are commonly found among people who smoke or drink regularly.

Ways to Avoid:

To avoid cluster headaches, you can try these remedies-

  • Do breathing exercises and intake more oxygen
  • Sleep well, preferably without any distraction
  • Take yoga sessions for at least five times a week of about 60 minutes each
  • Avoid tobacco and nicotine-based products
  • Avoid any form of alcohol

4. Rebound Headache:

Generally, when headaches strike, you take certain medications or pain-relief pills. Taking medications prescribed by a local pharmacy or a doctor may wear off your pain for a specific time, but when you stop taking the drug or take medicine in the wrong way, it might cause a rebound headache. If this happens too frequently, you are left with no choice but to continue the medication.

rebound headache
Headache Triggers: Rebound headache

This cycle continues until you start having daily headaches with more severe pain.

Taking medication to an extent is fine, but taking them in a large amount may affect your health. Many common pain relievers can cause rebound headaches.

Ways to Avoid:

Taking the medications at a small amount may be safe and effective. However, taking a massive amount of it too frequently can make your headache worse. Always practice safety while using a medication, never overdo it.

To avoid rebound headaches, you can try these remedies-

  • Limit taking acute medications to 2-3 days per week
  • In case limiting medications 2-3 days per week worsens your headache, consult with a doctor to come up with a new treatment plan.

Here are some natural tools to get you out of rebound headaches-

  • Take ginger
  • Take magnesium
  • Apply an ice pack
  • Wear a neck wrap
  • Use a heating pad
  • Meditate
  • Take a short walk
  • Try CBD oil

5. Ice Cream Headache:

Ice creams headaches, also known as brain freeze, is a headache that strikes after consuming cold food or beverage quickly or exposing your head to sudden and extreme cold. The pain usually happens on the forehead, and it usually lasts less than 5 minutes.

ice cream headache
Headache Triggers: ice cream headache

The most common symptom of an ice cream headache is a sharp or stabbing pain in the head. If an ice cream headache persists for long, it may lead to severe consequences.

Ways to Avoid:

To avoid ice cream headaches, you can try these remedies-

  • Press your tongue against the roof or the hard palate of your mouth for ten seconds
  • Drink warm beverages
  • Suck on your thumb
  • Cover your mouth with hand and breath quickly
  • Hold the cold liquid in your mouth for a few seconds before swallowing

6. Tension Headache:

In the modern world, there is nothing as common as stress and tension. Tension headaches occur because of constriction and tightening of muscles and cells due to stress. It can either be mental stress, physical exhaustion, missing out meals, and even showing signs of unhealthy habits.

tension headache
Headache Triggers: Tension headache
  • Emotional or mental stress:
  • Lack of sleep
  • Fatigue
  • Hunger
  • Caffeine withdrawal
  • Weather changes
  • Anxiety
  • Depression
  • Low iron level

Ways to Avoid:

You need to avoid getting too tensed, and let yourself cool your mind once in a while by trying the following:

  • Drink some hot drinks
  • Inhale the scent of peppermint or lavender oil
  • Massage your scalp and the back of your head
  • Get a whole-body massage
  • Stress management
  • Exercise regularly
  • Meditation

You might interested in: benefits of walking on grass in morning

Conclusion:

Headaches can make you lose focus on work and even make you go bonkers. It is necessary to allow yourself enough sleep to allow your mind to relax and recover since, more often than not, it represents fatigue and weakness.

The modern generation has numerous bad habits that can trigger headaches. The most common triggers are standing or sitting in improper posture, having too much exposure to TV and mobile screens, skipping out meals, and even insomnia.

Despite modernization appearing to be a savior, it can also be a dangerous thing. In addition to the triggers mentioned above, the present-day lifestyle is also responsible for the increase in the frequency of headaches. 

Hence, you need to get the best sleep aids at your disposal to prevent headaches. It would be best if you also consider keeping some headache relief medicines with you because they can appear at any instant, without warning.

Dr Maria

MD. Board Certified physician. Fellowship In Family Medicine UK. 8 years of medical experience in Lifestyle-related health disorders. Graduated from AIIMS – All India Institute Of Medical Science, INDIA

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