There are so many different kinds of headaches (migraines, migraines with aura, tension headaches, cluster headaches), and so many possible headache triggers that sometimes it seems like all you have to do is blink and- oh no, hear comes another headache!  What am I doing wrong?

Some headaches are hereditary, but many are preventable, if you know what the common triggers and migraine symptoms are.

Here are 11 common headache triggers:

1- Weight As if you needed another excuse to go on a diet, recent studies confirm a high correlation between obesity and frequent migraines, noting that women with a body mass index (BMI) of 30 were 35% more likely to suffer from chronic migraine headaches than women who had a lower BMI; women who were morbidly obese and had a BMI of 40 were found to be 80% more likely than others to suffer migraines.  Also read Weight Loss Surgery May Reduce Migraines

2- Personality Yes, it’s personal. Certain people are more likely than others to suffer headaches just because of their temperament and behavior; people who become easily agitated, obsess over minor details or have difficulty going with the flow are very likely giving themselves their own stress headaches.

3- Sex No, being a woman doesn’t guarantee migraines, although there does seem to be a correlation. Sexual activity sometimes triggers headaches, according to one study in which 46% of participants claimed that their headaches occurred following sexual intercourse.

4-day weekends Believe it or not, there is such thing as getting too much rest; oversleeping on that holiday weekend vacation could cause you to get a sleep hangover, so try to stick to the same work schedule as usual and resist the temptation to sleep in.

5- Bathroom paint Many bathroom paints emit powerful fumes which cause intense headaches, although many paint manufacturers have switched to more environmentally-friendly, odorless low-VOC (volatile organic compound) paint formulas.

6- Dehydration This one should seem like a no-brainer, but many of us still neglect to keep ourselves hydrated, despite yearly warnings from health officials every summer. A dehydration can be avoided by drinking plenty of juices and herbal teas, in addition to H2O.

7- Missing meals It’s important to recognize your hunger cues when they strike, and headaches are a common symptom of  malnutrition.

8- Caffeine overdose As usual, all things in moderation; one cup of coffee every now and then might relieve minor headaches, but 4 cups in a row is likely to bring on a storm of migraines. Find out if caffeine addiction is causing your headaches, and try to wean yourself off gently.

9- Being a couch potato Resist the temptation to watch  The Next Food Network Star television marathon; studies show that people who are sedentary are more likely to suffer from headaches, in addition to a host of other health problems, than those who include at least 30 minutes of aerobic exercise at least 5 times per week.

10- Not getting your z’s You still thing you don’t have time for more than 6 hours of sleep per night? Studies have proven that people who sleep no more than 6 hours at night are more likely to have migraine headaches than individuals who get their proper 8 hours of sleep every night.

11- Eating the wrong food Some foods are more likely to trigger headaches in people, while some nutrients like magnesium and B vitamins are great for sustaining neurological health in migraine patients .  Find out what your food triggers are and eat accordingly. Common triggers are aged wine or cheese, chocolate, MSG, beer and processed meats like salami and pepperoni.

Also read:

4 Headaches that Require Emergency Intervention

20 iPad Apps for Migraine Sufferers

Sources:

Health.com

Tags: chronic migraine headaches, cluster headaches, headache triggers, migraine symptoms, Migraines, migraines with aura, obesity migraines, prevent migraines, stress headache, tension headaches

This entry was posted on Monday, April 11th, 2011 at 5:54 am and is filed under Migraine Prevention. 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.