9X THIS IS WHERE YOUR HEADACHE COMES FROM
So you had the hammer visit this morning? In this case, your own fault, bummer. Those last shots may not have been such a good idea as they seemed at the time. Unfortunately, sometimes you can't do anything about it, and Joost should know where that terror comes from. A fight with your partner, the Russians in the country, or hassle with your mom. But it could also be that the pain is completely unexplainable, and that is frustrating. Because what do you do about it? Good to know is that when the headache gets worse, you get headaches more often, or the pain suddenly sits in different places than usual, it might be time to visit the doctor. It could very well be that your headache comes from here:
1. Migraine
If you have parents who regularly suffer from migraines, then there is a 50% chance that you will also suffer from it. All nice and well, but you would have preferred to inherit your mother's beautiful legs.
2. Two X chromosomes
Yep, unfortunately, women suffer more from migraines than men. No less than 16 to 18% of women struggle with this horror, which is significantly more than the 6 to 8% of men. Doctors attribute it to our hormones, as if it were not so. But there is hope. During your pregnancy and after menopause, the chance is high that migraines become a far-off issue.
3. Craving caffeine
Do you start your day at seven o'clock sharp with an espresso and do your weekend morning routines look a bit more vibrant? Then it could very well be that the wine from the night before is not the culprit of your headache, but the craving for a cup of caffeine. That is also the reason why doctors always encourage you to keep drinking your daily cup of coffee when you have a headache. But again, everything in moderation.
4. Sleep
Sleep deprivation goes hand in hand with headaches. Have you had a few days of little sleep? Then go to bed a bit earlier and catch up on your sleep. The chances are high that your headache will disappear like snow in the sun.
5. Skipping meals
Skipping your breakfast and/or lunch is basically asking for a pounding head. Skipping meals and having fluctuating blood sugar levels are assaults on your brain and can cause migraines. But besides eating, drinking is just as important. Make sure to keep your body hydrated by drinking at least 1.5 to 2 liters of water per day, so you keep your head clear.
6. Souvenir
Traveling and changing time zones and temperatures can be quite a strain on your body. For example, if you go from thirty degrees and high humidity to bitter cold in the mountains, you can bet your body will take a hit. If you regularly suffer from migraines and have a subscription at the airport, then a visit to the doctor is not a bad idea. There are medications that can stop your headache the moment you feel it coming on. This way, you can at least fly painlessly.
7. Stress
When you are stressed, both your blood pressure and heart rate rise. But also your cortisol levels, the stress hormone, peak. And all of this together can lead to headaches. A cold washcloth or a neck massage works wonders in this case..
8. Addicted to painkillers
At the slightest pain or ache, we reach for the bottle of Advil. But believe me, girlfriend, you are not alone. And it’s okay to take a paracetamol when your headache starts to throb. However, it is important not to take painkillers more than twice a week. Taking painkillers daily can lead to persistent headaches, and then you are further from home. A visit to the doctor is a better plan in that case.
9. Nutrition
There are nasty substances that can cause migraines. Do you visit the Chinese restaurant on the corner weekly? And do you go crazy from a pounding throb in your head? Then wave goodbye to your plate of babi pangang. Chinese restaurants often (and especially like to) use MSG in their dishes. This dangerous substance disrupts our hormonal balance and makes us hungry and keeps us hungry. For people who are sensitive to MSG, eating that substance can cause migraine-like symptoms and severe headaches. It is also known as the ‘Chinese restaurant syndrome.’.
