Relieve-Headaches

It is no secret that being overweight can lead to a variety of health problems. Often, these problems can inevitably result in an increased frequency of migraine headaches. Changing your diet and engaging in regular exercise are great tried and true methods to shed those pounds but often it is difficult to bring about these drastic changes in lifestyle. Frequently, those with weight problems choose to use dietary supplements as a shortcut to help them loose the weight. Continue reading…

There are many headache triggers that you probably come in contact with every day, often without even realizing it. By making just a few alterations in your daily lifestyle, you can avoid many of the triggers that will lead to a severe headache.

House Hold Chemicals

Most house holds are stock full of toxic chemicals that also emit strong odors that can be the cause of headaches for many people. Pay close attention to the types of cleaning chemicals, nail care products, and pesticides that you keep around the house and consider less toxic organic substitutes. Most of the cleaning chemicals used around the house can be substituted with plain old soap and a little elbow grease.

Food

Be conscious of what you are eating. Many seemingly harmless foods can cause headaches in a certain percentage of the population. See my earlier post on avoiding foods that cause headaches.

Radical changes in diet

This includes going on a long fast or trying the latest celebrity diets. Often your body will react negatively to large changes in caloric intake. Changes in blood sugar can also be responsible for headaches when changing your eating habits. If you are making a drastic change in your diet, do so with the supervision of your doctor.

There are plenty of triggers out there that are unavoidable so be aware of the ones that you can avoid and you may avoid at least one painful headache.

Headaches are one of the most common physical ailments and are experienced at some point by nearly everyone. 1 in 6 adults suffer from chronic headaches and nearly 50 billion dollars a year is spent in treating headache related symptoms, much of which is covered by individual medical health insurance plans.

Eye strain is a major trigger of headaches for a large percentage of the population. Much of the problem is no doubt due to the amount of time that we all spend in front of television and computer screens both on the job and at home. Although not usually a long term problem, the resulting pain can be very uncomfortable and may effect your productivity.

A few ways to avoid computer related eye strain:

• Take frequent breaks - Look away from the computer screen frequently and focus at object at different distances.
• Blink as much as possible - This will prevent dry eyes. Eyes require lubrication from the tear ducts to work efficiently.
• Use appropriate eyewear - Make sure your prescription is right for computer work. This includes glare resistant coatings and getting yearly eye exams.

If you experience eye strain related headaches frequently and over a long period of time, this could be a indicator of a more serious condition. A more intensive test, such as a CAT scan, may be in order. Be aware that many individual vision insurance plans will not cover the cost of this, so it may be necessary to seek a referral to a specialist if you suspect that your headache is the result of more than just tired eyes.

Headaches experienced by those with diabetes are often a symptom of low blood sugar or hypoglycemia. Though this is usually experienced by those that have diabetes, it is not necessarily limited to just diabetics. Typically, this is the result of taking too much insulin or not eating enough sugary foods to compensate for the insulin. Hypoglycemia can also be attributed to the following factors:

* taking too much insulin
* using certain medications
* skipping a meal
* engaging in vigorous physical activity
* drinking excessive amounts of alcohol

Diabetic individuals have an increased risk factor for a variety of other health problems that can also lead to chronic headaches as well. High blood pressure, stroke, and heart disease are just a few of the health issues that diabetics face. This reiterates the importance for diabetes prevention especially for those who have a family history of diabetes or if you are a member of one of the more high risk ethnic groups such as African Americans, Latinos, Native Americans, or Asian Americans.

There are many diabetes resources available on the internet if you fear that you are at risk or if you have diabetes and need additional resources. As with any chronic, recurring headaches, seek a physicians advice before attempting any course of treatment. If you think that you are suffering from hypoglycemia or may have diabetes, then ask your doctor about a diabetes screening.

A recent study by the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York has shown that obese people are much more likely to experience chronic headaches. In fact, they are 30% more likely to experience chronic headaches than people that are considered normal weight. In addition, the frequency and intensity of the headaches are more severe and tend to increase as weight increases.

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