Headaches in this stressful time of a pandemic seem to come and go. Especially in a country like India where stress levels among the workforce are through the roof, headaches are treated as mild inconveniences that need to be powered through.Â
What most people miss is that headaches can be very sinister and can snowball into something very serious. Headaches are the most common indicator of major neurological diseases and need to be examined when they keep occurring frequently. Other times they can be side effects of other diseases lurking in your body. So it is essential to not treat headaches lightly and get them checked up with a neurologist.Â
There are many trigger factors and risks involved with headaches which a patient needs to be aware of. Consulting your neurologist is recommended, but additional knowledge of an ailment comes in handy, especially in the case of headaches. So in today’s blog, we are going to learn about the trigger factors of headaches and the risks that come with them. There will also be a sparse mention of how to counter frequent headaches with simple exercises.
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Trigger Factors of Headaches
As mentioned in our previous blog of These Habits Cause a Migraine, diet is a very big part in triggering a person’s frequent headaches, so we will mention dietary reasons in a separate section.
The following reasons can be attributed to the triggering of a headache:
Tired of Being Fatigued- Your body needs regular rest. If you don’t take many breaks and experience regular headaches, then are high chances that a break that will allow your mind and body to recover will be enough for making you feel better.Â
Incorrect Sleeping Schedule- A solid 8 hours of sleep is the perfect amount for a working adult. Less sleep will most certainly result in frequent headaches and a barrage of other illnesses. Oversleeping is linked with extended headaches too, so ensure you get 8 hours of sleep. Nothing more, and nothing else.
Tobacco Abuse- Too much tobacco whether it is in the form of chewing tobacco or cigarettes or vapes, tobacco is a major factor for headaches. It is advisable to quit tobacco regardless of whether you get headaches or not, but too much consumption of tobacco is linked to headaches and you should quit smoking immediately.
Allergic Reactions to Drugs- Sometimes drugs can perform their function inside a human body but produce some side effects as well. Talk to your doctor about your medication if you have started experiencing headaches after a course started as you might be suffering from an allergic reaction to your prescription drugs.
Sensitivity to Surroundings- Surroundings can actually play a big part in frequent headaches. Sensitivity to your surroundings involving lights and altitude can be playing factors in your headaches. It is highly advised to seek a neurologist if you trigger headaches with a change in your surroundings.
Dietary Trigger Factors of Headaches
Diet plays a big part in a person who suffers regular headaches. Most of the time a patient suffers regular headaches as he/she has a compromised diet with an excess of some while deficiency of other nutrients, all of which will be mentioned below.
Caffeine- Caffeine has been a trigger factor in both headaches and migraines. Caffeine which is most commonly found in coffee can be consumed in large quantities very easily as it is an uncontrolled psychoactive substance. Withdrawal from caffeine or too much consumption leads to the triggering of headaches so it is advised to consume it in small quantities.
Processed Food- processed and packed foods have a lot of chemicals in them to preserve and increase the shelf life. Excess of these chemicals in our body is linked to headaches and hence should be avoided altogether.
Acidic Food- Food that contains acid-like yogurt or citrus fruits like Oranges and lemon can trigger a headache in a person. Citric acid has been known to produce headaches and if you experience frequent pains you should switch over to foods that have low acid content.
MSG- Monosodium glutamate or popularly known as MSG is found in Chinese food and is one of the most unhealthy chemicals that a human body can ingest through a regular diet. It causes a plethora of diseases and headaches are one of them. MSG should be avoided at all costs for a person who risks regular headaches.
Cheesy Food- Cheese has been linked to producing severe headaches in patients so replacing cheese in your diet with any other form of fat would be advisable. Avoid cheesy foods like Pizza and sandwiches, and replace them with home-cooked food that contains heavy amounts of protein.
About Dr. Shailesh Jain
 Dr. Shailesh Jain AIIMS Neurosurgeon (former) is a brain stroke specialist in Pitampura. He is an alumnus of AIIMS, Delhi, and has worked in AIIMS as the best doctor for headache in Pitampura. Dr. Shailesh Jain is a gifted doctor who is now a top consultant in the Max Super Speciality Hospital, Shalimar Bhag.
Dr. Shailesh Jain specializes in neurological problems in children and is regarded as the best neurologist in Pitampura. Book an appointment with him at the Arihant Neurospine Clinic today!
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