Alarming facts about headaches:
-9 out of 10 Americans suffer from a headache at some point in their life
-45 million Americans suffer from recurrent headaches, while 28 million of those suffer from migraines.
-The most frequent type of headache is known as a tension type headache, occurring when the muscles in the back of the neck get tight or go into spasm.
Common Headache Triggers:
-Caffeine withdrawal
-Caffeine-Alcohol and Dehydration
-Smoking
-Tight pony tails, hair bands, or hats pulling on hair
-Slouched or improper neck posture
-Warm weather
-Strong scents
-Excessive salt
-Skipping meals
-Chocolate
-Nuts (peanuts, brazil nuts, and even coconuts)
-Allergies (pet, grass, mold, weeds, food, etc…)
Migraine Triggers:
-Tyramine rich foods:Bananas, Grapes, Raisins, Prunes, Plums, Oranges, Avocadoes, Dried Fruit, Eggplant, Figs, Pineapples, Soy, Tofu, Sauerkraut, Aged Cheeses (asiago, romano, parmesan, aged cheddar, etc…)
-Foods seasoned with monosodium glutamate (MSG): Seasoned potato chips/many processed foods with added seasoning
-Nitrate containing foods: Processed meats, hotdogs, etc…
-Over sleeping or not getting enough sleep
-Oral Contraceptives
-Alcohol/Red Wine/ Any of the common headache triggers listed above
Ways to reduce headaches:
-Avoid the triggers
-Acupuncture
-Chiropractic care
-Biofeedback
-Stress reduction techniques
-Deep breathing techniques
-Fish Oil
-Vitamin B12
-Get the same amount of sleep each night (6 to 8 hours)
-Several over the counter medications
Sources:"Foods Containing Tyramine." Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia. Web. 16 July 2010. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Foods_containing_tyramine."Alternative Migraine and Headache Treatments." WebMD - Better Information. Better Health. Web. 16 July 2010.http://www.webmd.com/migraines-headaches/stop-frequent-migraines-5/remedies.
"Headaches and Migraines Center: Treatments, Causes, Types (Cluster, Tension, Chronic, Sinus, and More )." WebMD - Better Information. Better Health. Web. 16 July 2010. http://www.webmd.com/migraines-headaches/default.htm.
"Headache and Migraine Causes Slideshow: 12 Surprising Headache Triggers & Tips for Relief." WebMD - Better Information. Better Health. Web. 16 July 2010. <http://www.webmd.com/migraines-headaches/slideshow-surprising-headache-triggers>.
-9 out of 10 Americans suffer from a headache at some point in their life
-45 million Americans suffer from recurrent headaches, while 28 million of those suffer from migraines.
-The most frequent type of headache is known as a tension type headache, occurring when the muscles in the back of the neck get tight or go into spasm.
Common Headache Triggers:
-Caffeine withdrawal
-Caffeine-Alcohol and Dehydration
-Smoking
-Tight pony tails, hair bands, or hats pulling on hair
-Slouched or improper neck posture
-Warm weather
-Strong scents
-Excessive salt
-Skipping meals
-Chocolate
-Nuts (peanuts, brazil nuts, and even coconuts)
-Allergies (pet, grass, mold, weeds, food, etc…)
Migraine Triggers:
-Tyramine rich foods:Bananas, Grapes, Raisins, Prunes, Plums, Oranges, Avocadoes, Dried Fruit, Eggplant, Figs, Pineapples, Soy, Tofu, Sauerkraut, Aged Cheeses (asiago, romano, parmesan, aged cheddar, etc…)
-Foods seasoned with monosodium glutamate (MSG): Seasoned potato chips/many processed foods with added seasoning
-Nitrate containing foods: Processed meats, hotdogs, etc…
-Over sleeping or not getting enough sleep
-Oral Contraceptives
-Alcohol/Red Wine/ Any of the common headache triggers listed above
Ways to reduce headaches:
-Avoid the triggers
-Acupuncture
-Chiropractic care
-Biofeedback
-Stress reduction techniques
-Deep breathing techniques
-Fish Oil
-Vitamin B12
-Get the same amount of sleep each night (6 to 8 hours)
-Several over the counter medications
Sources:"Foods Containing Tyramine." Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia. Web. 16 July 2010. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Foods_containing_tyramine."Alternative Migraine and Headache Treatments." WebMD - Better Information. Better Health. Web. 16 July 2010.http://www.webmd.com/migraines-headaches/stop-frequent-migraines-5/remedies.
"Headaches and Migraines Center: Treatments, Causes, Types (Cluster, Tension, Chronic, Sinus, and More )." WebMD - Better Information. Better Health. Web. 16 July 2010. http://www.webmd.com/migraines-headaches/default.htm.
"Headache and Migraine Causes Slideshow: 12 Surprising Headache Triggers & Tips for Relief." WebMD - Better Information. Better Health. Web. 16 July 2010. <http://www.webmd.com/migraines-headaches/slideshow-surprising-headache-triggers>.
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