Headaches

Headaches are a common ailment, which will have been experienced by most people at some point. In fact they’re so common that we often don’t give them the proper attention they deserve - we may ‘pop a pill’ or ‘sleep it off’. However, there are different types of headaches and therefore different reasons as to why they occur. It’s worth looking at the factors which may trigger a headache in order to treat it correctly. We give you a summary overview here in this article.

What can cause a headache?

● Dehydration
● Erratic eating patterns
● Food allergies or intolerances
● Stress
● Eye and/or eyesight issues
● Muscle tension and/or tightness
● Injury to the back, neck, shoulders or head
● Poor/incorrect posture
● Lack of sleep
● Illness such as flu
● Menstruation
● Hormone imbalances
● Overconsumption of alcohol or caffeine

These lists are illustrative and not exhaustive.

Different types of headaches

Tension - the most common type of headache, which feels like a tightening or a pressure around the head

Hormone - changes in hormone levels can trigger headaches and can be brought on by menstruation, contraception, pregnancy, menopause or HRT

Cluster - an intense head pain, usually experienced on one side of the head and/or face and eye. Not overly common. Tend to be experienced from middle age onwards. Come on suddenly and can last for several weeks. Can cause changes to the eye, such as redness, watering or swelling, as well as extreme agitation in a person. Cluster headaches have been linked to smoking and genetic predisposition. Seek medical advice as further investigation and stronger prescription medications will be required.

Migraine - moderate to intense head pain, often experienced alongside nausea and/or sickness, brain fog, increased sensitivity to light, sound and/or temperature. Can occur from teens onwards. Can last for hours to days. There are three different types of migraine, which include the previously mentioned symptoms and:

• Migraine with aura - head pain accompanied by the sight of colours or flashes of light
• Migraine without aura - head pain without colours or flashes of light
• Aura without the headache - colours or flashes of light are seen. No experience of head pain.

Seek medical advice as further investigation and stronger prescription medications will be required.

What to do?

Drink Water - try to drink at least 2 litres per day. Ensure you drink enough water to replace any lost through exercise and perspiration, or diuretic drinks, like tea and coffee

Medication - over-the-counter (OTC) painkillers such as paracetamol, ibuprofen and aspirin. Cluster headaches and migraines will require medical guidance for medication.

Ergonomics - ensure you keep your body in neutral alignment wherever possible. Consider how your seating, standing and lying positions affect your posture - do you have the correct support for your body, particularly when sitting and sleeping? Do you work from home - does your workplace set need to be assessed?

Rest and De-stress - take some time to rest and recuperate, allowing the pain to subside

Light Exercise - stretches/yoga, walking or a massage to help alleviate any muscle tension or tightness

Avoid - any food or drink that triggers allergies or intolerances

Test - get regular eye tests

Alternative Therapies - both acupuncture and reflexology have been known to help alleviate pain and headache symptoms

Always seek medical advice prior to treatment and/or consult a pharmacist.