HEADACHES - The neck pain headache

They are suffered by one in 20 adults every day, 

but there may be a simple solution to your headaches.

It's enough to make your head hurt. Headaches are the most common ailment known to man and, for the most part, they are poorly managed by popping a few painkillers.

According to the World Health Organization, one in 20 adults suffer the disabling condition every day, with 99 per cent of women and 93 per cent of men set to suffer in their lifetime.

About one million Australians experience daily headaches, and for more than 90 per cent of sufferers, migraines interfere with their education, career and social activities. On the up side, help is at hand – and it's not all in your head.

All in your neck

Headache and migraine physiotherapist Dean Watson, head of the Watson Headache Institute, says neck pain can be a component in migraines and diagnosing and treating neck problems can stop the pain.

"Neck involvement is underestimated when it comes to the cause and relief of headaches," Watson says.

He says research at the institute over the last 10 years has shown the underlying disorder in migraines and other forms of headaches may be due to a malfunctioning pain filter located in the brain stem.

However, he says the brain stem can be desensitised. "This is done by examining the small movements of the joints in the upper neck and mirrors the beneficial effect of heavy-duty anti-migraine medication."

Early intervention vital

Early diagnosis and management through a comprehensive treatment program can significantly decrease the course of costly treatment and disability that is often associated with migraines.

Watson says seeing your GP will rule out any serious issues underlying your headaches. "Once this has occurred, seek a comprehensive assessment of your upper neck."

He says treatment aimed at restoring normal function of the joints in the upper neck, as well as good posture and retraction, is important. Some improvement should be noticeable in just a few weeks.

Pull your head in

Watson says too many of us stick our chin out and neck forward when we are sitting or standing, which weakens the joint function in our upper necks. To retrain your posture, he recommends this simple retracting exercise:

• Move your head back horizontally so your chin is vertical to the floor and not tilted.
• Place your hand on your chin and push your head back further. Your neck muscles should now be completely relaxed. Hold for 20 seconds.
• Repeat three times with a five- to 10-second break between holds. Repeat the entire process every three to four hours. Watson says this movement is like putting a drawer back into a filing cabinet. "If done firmly enough and repeatedly, it can abort headaches and migraines," he says.

Other measures

Andrew Kikeros, vice chairman of Headache and Migraine Western Australia, says it is also important to create a headache plan, make changes to your lifestyle if necessary and work closely with your doctor.

"Planning around the crisis that may occur because you cannot fulfil your work and family roles because of a headache allows you to concentrate on yourself and on managing your headache rather than worrying about others," he says.

Preventive measures include sleeping, eating and exercising regularly, drinking plenty of water, limiting caffeine and alcohol and reducing stress.

Types of headaches

• Tension headaches: The most common headache, accounting for almost 90 per cent of cases. Symptoms include pain or pressure.
• Migraines: These are three times more common in women than in men. Symptoms include nausea and vomiting, neck muscle tenderness, stiffness, discomfort and severe pain.
• Menstrual migraines: One of the five most common disabling conditions in women. Symptoms occur one or two days either side of the start of a cycle.

Source: http://www.bodyandsoul.com.au/

HEADACHES - 5 ways to manage a headache

The common headache affects 6 million Australians a year. 

Here's how to manage it.

Find out where your headache is coming from

Did you know the majority of headaches are caused by muscle tightness in the head and neck region? Try and understand where your headache is coming from. Often treating the source of the pain will provide more effective pain relief. If you're unsure consult your local pharmacist or GP.

Loosen up

Ease the tightness in your muscles by trying relaxation techniques such as head, neck or shoulder massage, stretching or applying a heat pack to sore muscles. Also if you're feeling particularly stressed, try to relax by exercising or spending a few minutes meditating. Often releasing the tension in your body will help ease a headache.

Don't slouch!

Bad posture over an extended period will overwork or weaken muscles, which in turn could cause muscle pain and headaches. If you sit in front a desk all day, get into the habit of checking your posture regularly and also taking regularly breaks away from your desk.

Get some quality shut-eye

As with a lot of health issues, quality of sleep plays a big part in the management of headaches. Make sure you're getting plenty of rest each night and invest in a quality pillow that provides plenty of neck support.

Keep a headache diary

Recording what you do/eat/drink, your hormonal cycle, any medication you are on and changes in environment over a period of time will help you identify any patterns that may lead to headaches. Having this information readily available will also help your GP or pharmacist to diagnose the kind of headache you're experiencing. 

Source: http://www.bodyandsoul.com.au/

HEADACHES - What could be causing my recurring headaches?

Dr Cindy Pan offers her advice for tension headaches

The most common causes of recurring headaches are migraines or tension headaches. While both types have some features in common – each are common in people with a family history of headaches, they often start in the teen years and may be triggered by stress – certain factors distinguish one from the other.

Migraines are more likely to affect just one side of the head and may be preceded by changes in mood, appetite, bowel habit and/or drowsiness, as well as visual disturbances such as flashing lights or zigzagging lines. They are often accompanied by nausea and vomiting. They are usually relieved by sleep and last from half an hour to several hours. Tension headaches may continue despite sleep and last from half an hour to days or weeks.

Common triggers for tension headaches include postural problems, anxiety, stress, fatigue, emotional strain, depression, loud noises, bright lights and prolonged reading.

Among the many triggers for migraines are dehydration, poor sleep patterns, irregular meals, some alcoholic beverages, chocolate, citrus and other foods, caffeine withdrawal, strong odours, loud noises, bright lights, hormonal fluctuations, stress, over-exercising and excessive screen time (computers, TV, gaming).

Talk to your doctor about your likely diagnosis. Keeping a headache diary will help you see which triggers precede your headaches. Prevention by identifying and avoiding your triggers is ideal, but not always possible. If not, your doctor may recommend medication.

Migraine medications generally fall into two types: those for managing acute attacks and those taken daily to prevent frequent and severe attacks.
For tension headaches, in addition to judicious use of analgaesics, you can also try relaxation techniques, neck and shoulder massage, heat packs, creating better work-life balance, regular exercise and possibly counselling to assist with anxiety and emotional issues.

Source: http://www.bodyandsoul.com.au/

HEALTH - Five steps to beat a headache

Relieve a nasty headache with these tried-and-true tips

 

Before you pop an over-the-counter painkiller, consider these five ways to prevent and manage a headache.

1.   Change your diet

Many foods trigger headaches, from aged cheese to red wine. Among the most common offenders are foods high in the amino acid tyramine. They include salami, snow peas, pickles, olives, nuts and yeast.

Nutritionist Catherine Saxelby suggests keeping a food diary to link your diet to your headaches, then begin an elimination diet. Cut out all potential triggers and re-introduce a new one every second day.

2.   Take supplements or herbs

Magnesium is closely linked to serotonin, which regulates blood-vessel function. Gerald Edmunds, secretary of the Brain Foundation, which runs Headache Australia, says our soil is lacking in magnesium and a deficiency can disturb serotonin production and cause muscle inflammation. Supplements can relax constricted blood vessels and muscles.

A clinical trial by Griffith University in Queensland found folate and vitamin B dramatically reduced headache frequency and pain severity in long-term sufferers.

The herb feverfew contains parthenolide, a compound that helps relieve muscle spasms and prevents constriction of blood vessels in the brain. It can be taken as dry leaves or in capsule form.

3.   Try aromatherapy

Some essential oils, such as peppermint, lavender, chamomile, rosemary, lemon and marjoram have an analgesic and anti-inflammatory effect and have been found to be particularly useful in managing tension headaches.

Dr Jane Buckle, author of Clinical Aromatherapy: Essential Oils In Practice (Churchill Livingstone), recommends mixing two drops of peppermint oil in a teaspoon of olive oil and rubbing it on the forehead and temples (preferably while lying in a quiet space). Or place a few drops of lavender, mandarin or clay sage essential oils on a cotton ball and inhale for a few minutes.

4.   Try acupuncture

Before treatment, the practitioner will try to assess what is causing the headaches, acupuncturist Aja Stuart says.

“If it’s hormonal, we treat that, if it’s stress or tension headaches, releasing the neck and shoulders works wonders,” she says.

Stuart recommends a session once a week for a month to prevent the onset of a headache.

5.   Skip your period

A change in hormone levels can cause menstrual headaches or migraines. “It’s a drop in oestrogen in the menstrual cycle or contraceptive pill cycle that often triggers headaches,” says Professor Alastair MacLennan of Adelaide’s Women’s and Children’s Hospital.

He says the monthly headaches can be cured by using an oestrogen patch or taking an oestrogen pill.

“Some women like to run continuous [contraceptive] pills together so they don’t get a period for several months,” Professor MacLennan says. It’s best to consult your doctor first.

Source: http://www.bodyandsoul.com.au/

HEADACHE - 10 Crazy Reasons You Have a Headache

10 Crazy Reasons You Have a Headache

Top docs explain your temples of doom

BY PAIGE FOWLER, JULY 23, 2014

IMAGE FROM THINKSTOCK

Off the top of your head, you can name a few obvious headache triggers: endless traffic, crying babies, and large rocks falling on your cranium. But there are other, more insidious reasons your noggin keeps pounding—like these:

1. You coughed.

It seems innocent enough, but a cough can sometimes be followed by a sudden sharp, splitting, or stabbing headache. The condition is called primary cough headache, and it’s most common in guys over the age of 40. “It’s thought to be the result of increased pressure within the veins surrounding the brain and skull,” says Brian Grosberg, M.D., director of the Montefiore Headache Center and Associate Professor of Neurology at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine.

The pain may last anywhere from a few brutal seconds to 30 minutes. While it can come at random, if you frequently hack because of an infection, allergies, or asthma, seeking treatment for the underlying condition can help quell your cough-induced headaches. “If it’s not related to any specific symptoms, but the pain happens regularly, talk to your doctor about medication that may be able to treat the pain,” Grosberg says.

2. You’re constipated.

Like coughing, straining on the toilet may lead to a sudden increase in pressure in the veins of the head and pull on pain-sensitive structures in the brain, Grosberg says. The real issue, of course, is constipation—so focus on, uh, smoothing things out. Up your fiber intake with more fruits and vegetables, drink at least eight 8-ounce glasses of water per day to soften stool, and hit the gym to get things moving again.

3. You skipped a proper warmup.

A sudden headache can seriously derail a workout. Exercise-induced brain pain usually affects both sides of your noggin. “It could be related to sudden changes in the adrenaline system during intense exercise,” says Matthew Robbins, M.D., director of Inpatient Services at Montefiore. These sudden changes are most likely to occur if you dive into a workout without a warmup, which gives your brain a chance to adjust to rising adrenaline levels.

So be sure to take five to 10 minutes to stretch, walk, or jog before exercising more intensely. “If you notice you get a headache once your heart rate passes a certain point, you may benefit from building up to a point where you know you’re comfortable and maintaining a steady pace instead of continuing to increase the intensity,” Grosberg says. 

4. You're having rough sex.

Mind-blowing sex can do exactly that: You may experience a sudden, severe, explosive headache right before or during orgasm. “It’s likely due to short-lived increased pressure inside the brain during sexual excitement,” Grosberg says. It’s a bigger possibility when you’re having a lot of sex in a short period of time, possibly because your brain doesn’t have as long to recover between sessions in the sack. “If you notice certain positions are more likely to bring them on, you may want to avoid those positions or take a more passive role during sex,” he adds. 

5. You take Viagra. 

If you’ve been popping ED medications such as Viagra or Cialis and experience headaches, talk to your doc. The drugs work by dilating blood vessels, which enables you to successfully pitch a tent on demand. Problem is, they can also expand blood vessels in and around the brain and can cause a headache. Your doctor may be able to change your meds, adjust your dose, or add another drug to help dull the pain.

6. It’s Saturday morning.

A few extra hours between the sheets may seem like an ideal way to kick off the weekend, but it could have the opposite effect and give you a headache. The culprit: caffeine withdrawal. “If every morning you have a Venti Starbucks at 7 a.m., but don’t have any caffeine until you go to brunch at noon on the weekends, you could experience withdrawal,” Robbins says. Aside from getting up earlier for a cup of Joe, the best approach is to decrease your coffee consumption altogether so you’re less likely to suffer symptoms. The key to doing so pain-free is to cut back gradually. “If you’re used to three cups per day, start with two and a half cups for a week. Decrease your intake by about half a cup each week until you’re drinking just one to two cups per day or none at all,” Robbins adds.

7. You’re not stressed anymore

Stress has one upside: it protects against pain. You’re actually more likely to suffer a throbber in the days after a period of heavy stress is over. A recent study in the journal Neurologyfound that among migraine sufferers, the risk of headache increases five-fold in the 6 hours after a stressful experience. When stressed, your body churns out the hormone cortisol, a natural steroid that protects against pain. When you start to relax—a time known as stress letdown—levels of cortisol subside and you may become more sensitive to pain. Managing stress with regular exercise, adequate sleep, or deep breathing can help keep cortisol levels more stable.

8. You have a corner office.

Congratulations, you scored the corner office! Now you just need a giant bottle of ibuprofen to go with your newly acquired executive chair. All of those windows, along with overhead fluorescent lighting, create glare off of your computer screen, which triggers frequent pounders. “Glare affects certain cells in the retina that interact with different pain pathways in the brain and can lead to headaches,” Robbins says. Fortunately the fix is an easy one: Cover your computer screen with a glare shield to block out the caustic light.

9. You chew too much gum.

When researchers from Israel asked gum-chewing headache suffers to give up their habit for a month, 86 percent reported improvements in their symptoms and many experienced total relief. The artificial sweetener aspartame found in many brands may trigger the throbbing, and the repetitive act of chewing could create muscle tension in your jaw and skull. Ditch the sticks or replace them with aspartame-free mints for a month and see if your symptoms improve.

10. You’re overweight. 

Frequent headaches are nearly twice as common among obese people as they are among normal-weight adults, according to researchers from Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. Being obese is associated with an 81 percent higher chance of having episodic migraines. “Excess weight heightens the inflammatory state throughout the body including in the brain,” Robbins says. Losing weight can help. Researchers are even looking into whether gastric bypass reduces headaches in people after they go under the knife.

Source: http://www.menshealth.com/

THROBBING HEADACHE? Try These Headache Remedies

When your head is pounding, do you head straight for the medicine cabinet? Before you pop any pills, try these natural headache remedies to prevent or stop a throbbing headache.

Strengthen your neck. It might sound strange, but headache pain can come from weakness or spasms of the neck muscles. How? Pain travels from your upper back and goes to your lower neck, then upper neck, as progressively weak muscles compensate for, say, too much computer time. To put the brakes on reoccurring headaches, work on strengthening the trapezius muscles in your upper back. It only takes about 5 minutes, three times a week. Try this move to stretch your neck and traps.

Modify your diet. Some foods and ingredients, including caffeine, cheese, smoked meats, sugar, chocolate, and foods containing MSG, are known to trigger migraines in susceptible people. If you regularly indulge in any of these foods, eliminate them one at a time and see if you can figure out the culprit. Find out what other factors might be triggering your throbbing headache.

Push pressure points. Acupressure is one of the age-old headache remedies and may help dim headache pain. Try rubbing the two points on either side of your vertebrae at the nape of your neck (right below the ridges at the base of your skull). Massaging the webbed area on the top of your left hand, between your thumb and forefinger, may also relieve your pain.

Keep moving. Regular aerobic exercise means fewer headaches because it helps relieve stress and increases the level of painkilling endorphins in your system. Similarly, yoga, stretching, and meditation help reduce tension, thus relaxing the chemical cascade that can cause headaches.

Head to bed -- with your significant other! Orgasms often stop a throbbing headache in its tracks since it's associated with the release of a vasodilating gas called nitric oxide.


Source: http://www.sharecare.com

HEADACHES - What Are Headaches? What Causes Headaches?

Last updated: Wednesday 18 September 2013
Originally published: Wednesday 13 June 2007


A headache, medically known as cephalalgia, is a continuous pain in the head. The pain can be anywhere in the head or neck. As the brain has no pain receptors, headaches are not felt in the brain. The pain is caused by disturbances of the pain-sensitive structures around the brain.

The American Academy of Neurology says there are four types of headache: 

●  Vascular headaches - thought to be caused by blood vessel swelling and hyperemia (increase of blood flow). The most common type being migraine. Migraine sufferers typically have severe pain on one or both sides of the head, visual disturbance, and/or upset stomach. Other forms of vascular headaches include cluster headaches and toxic headaches. Click here to read our separate article "What Are Cluster Headaches? What Causes Cluster Headaches?".

●  Muscle contraction (tension) headaches - also known as myogenic headaches, are caused by the tightening/tensing of facial and neck muscles, these account for nearly 90% of all headaches. Researchers at the University of Copenhagen reported in the Journal of Clinical Epidemiology that 3% of the population has chronic tension-type headaches.

●  Traction headaches - these are usually caused by pulling or stretching pain-sensitive parts of the head, as may occur during eyestrain and eye muscles are tensed. G. Kim Bigley wrote in the book "Clinical Methods: The History, Physical, and Laboratory Examinations. 3rd edition, "Headaches can result from intracranial mass lesions such as metastatic tumors, abscess, or hematoma (a solid swelling of clotted blood)."

Traction headache is caused by organic diseases involving structures in the head. 

●  Inflammatory headaches - these headaches are symptoms of other disorders, including sinus infection, meningitis, or stroke.

The American Academy of Neurology adds that headaches may be warning signals of more serious disorders, especially those caused by inflammation.

Tension headaches

According to the U.S. National Library of Medicine, tension headaches are the most common type of headache, and generally affect adults and adolescents - they can affect younger children, but this is not common.

About 90% of all headaches are tension headaches

During a tension headache, there may be muscle tightness in specific parts of the head, scalp and/or neck - these areas are uncomfortable and often painful. Some studies, however, have indicated that muscle tightness is not as common among sufferers as was once believed.

People who suffer from tension headaches say they feel like a tight band or vice on the head. The pain is usually dull, and covers most of the head.

It was thought that tension headaches were mainly caused by tension that builds up in the scalp and neck muscles as a result of stress, depression, anxiety, or a head injury. However, the exact cause or causes are unknown. Recent research indicates that there does not appear to be any significant increase in muscle tension in people known to suffer from tension headaches.

Experts today believe that a change in certain brain chemicals may be the main factors that contribute to tension headaches. These chemicals are the ones that help nerves communicate, such as serotonin, endorphins, and several others. We are not sure why the levels of these chemicals change. We suspect that the fluctuations activate pain pathways to the brain and probably undermine our ability to suppress pain.

What causes tension headaches?

These factors are thought to contribute to tension headaches: 

●  Stress - an Italian study found that stress factors are among the major triggers of headaches and migraines in children. 

●  Depression 
●  Anxiety 
●  Bad posture 
●  Staying in one position for a long time 
●  Working in an awkward position for a long time 
●  Clenching one's jaw 
●  Caffeine - individuals who drink large amounts of coffee tend to get more headaches than those with low consumption or people who never drink coffee, Norwegian researchers reported in the Journal of Headache Pain.

Some people believe food allergies may be the main factor for some people. However, further studies are needed.

A team at the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine linked teenage headaches with smoking, lack of exercise and/or being overweight. In another study at the same university, investigators found that lightning can trigger headaches in some people.

What are the treatment options for tension headaches? 

The ideal treatment for tension headaches depends on many factors, including the patient's overall physical and mental health, and lifestyle.

Some people manage to deal with their pain without the help of a health care professional. Over-the-counter medications are usually effective for most cases of tension headache. However, be careful, overuse can lead to further headaches.

●  Painkillers - such as aspirin, acetaminophen (paracetamol, Tylenol), naproxen and ibuprofen. Prescription drugs are also available for more severe symptoms, including naproxen, indomethacin and ketorolac. 

Patients with severe migraine or headache who are hospitalized may benefit from intravenous aspirin, researchers at the University of California, San Francisco reported in the journal Neurology.

●  Combination drugs - aspirin or acetaminophen may be combined with a sedative or caffeine.

●  Triptans and opiates - for sufferers of both migraines and tension headaches. Triptans are effective in relieving the symptoms of both tension headaches and migraines. With opiates there is a risk of dependency and unpleasant side effects.

Scientists at The University of Adelaide in Australia reported on a study that found that frequent and large doses of codeine can result in greater sensitivity to pain.

●  Acupuncture - researchers at the Technical University of Munich in Germany carried out two systematic reviews on acupuncture therapy. They found that acupuncture can be effective for patients with tension headaches or migraine.

Senior investigator, Klaus Linde said "In Germany, acupuncture is frequently used for headache. Most private health insurances, in fact, reimburse for acupuncture, although they cover only about 10 percent of the population."

A headache diary - if you keep a diary it may help you identify your headache triggers. When a headache starts write down when it started, include notes of what you drank and ate during the previous 24 hours. Note down how long you had slept, whether it was a good night's sleep, when you slept. Record in your diary what was happening in your life immediately prior to the onset of your headache - were you under unusual stress? Write down how long the headache lasted, and if you can, what made it stop.

Hot or cold showers - some people find that taking a shower helps. While one person may benefit from a hot shower, others may find a cold one gives better results.

Lifestyle - some simple changes in lifestyle may reduce, and sometimes completely eliminate the recurrence of headaches. Getting enough sleep, doing plenty of exercise, stretching the neck and back muscles regularly may be all you need.

Diet - are you eating properly? A good diet with plenty of fruit, vegetables, minerals and fiber will help you stay in good health and might help reduce the intensity and frequency of your headaches.

Work related headaches - if you suspect your job may be at the root of the problem, try to find ways to make it less stressful - talk to your boss, or human resources manager.

Depression - if the tension headache is chronic (longterm), there is a chance you could be suffering from depression and prescribe an antidepressant.

Yoga or Tai Chi - ff you are lucky enough to have a good trainer, yoga or Tai Chi have been known to treat many types of headache effectively. It is crucial that the therapy is done with a well trained expert. Researchers at UCLA in California found that Tai Chi provides significant benefits for adults with tension headaches.

Using sleep to treat chronic tension headaches can lead to insomnia - scientists at Rush University Medical Center found that women who use sleep or napping as a way of coping with chronic pain caused by tension headaches risk developing chronic insomnia.

What is the outlook? Will I get better?

In the majority of cases, tension headaches respond well to treatment. They are unpleasant but not usually harmful if they do not occur as a symptom of another condition. For treatment to be effective it is important that the patient adheres to the doctor's instructions. Non-compliance or non-adherence is one of the most common reasons for treatment failures - not only for tension headaches.

When tension headaches occur as a symptom of another condition, they will generally get better when that underlying condition is treated successfully. If painkillers are used too often and for too long, there is a risk the patient may develop rebound headaches.

Video - Symptoms of Tension vs. Migraine headache 

The video below contains a list of the symptoms that help to differentiate tension from migraine headache.

Written by Christian Nordqvist

Source: http://www.medicalnewstoday.com

HEALTH INFO - Top 10 Foods that Cause Headache

Article by aasim khair

Been to a party? Just back from a restaurant? On the field in a baseball match just after the drinks break? Head is aching badly! Why is it? What have you consumed? The food was ‘super-tasty’. There could have been no wrong. But, why this headache? Yes, it is all because of the food you have taken. Yes, it is tasty but it has side effects as well. Here, we discuss the foods that cause headaches. We focus on the foods’ composition and try to explain the cause for the headache. We also suggest a few remedies following which will help you escape a headache without compromising on taste. Listed are the Top 10 foods that cause headache.

10.  Refined Sugars

 

Sugar refining is the process of extracting out the sugar from plant materials and then removing unwanted materials from the extracted raw sugar. These materials include remaining stalk fibres, soil, waxes and bacteria. This process includes washing, boiling, centrifuging, filtering and drying. After this process, most of the plants’ nutritional elements are lost. The sugar is further refined and whitened by being filtered in a water added liquid state. This refined sugar is commonly called ‘table sugar’ or ‘pure sugar’ (in chemical terms) and is devoid to all nutritional elements (vitamins, mineral, fibres and proteins). Intake of refined sugar continuously depresses ‘immune system’, leads to severe headaches and migraines (at times). It also contributes to infertility, increases risk of cancer and one cannot get rid of it (It makes you addictive). Headache is due to reduction in level of oxygen due to constricting arteries around the brain. The constriction is often caused by sudden changes in level of blood glucose. Under normal circumstances, delivery of glucose is kept constant by insulin created in the pancreas, but when the system fails, arteries cramp up, trying to force more flow. Headache is a signal to indicate the ‘Brain’s Distress’. Intake of Refined Sugar continuously (in large amounts) is one of the reasons for ‘system failure’, Headache. The illness which starts off with a headache can go up to strokes or diabetes. Sugar intake should be controlled, and ‘health discipline’ is to be maintained. Alternatives of refined sugar like Coconut palm sugar, Raw Honey and Stevia.

9. Nuts and Seeds (Peanut and Pumpkin Seeds)

 

Researchers have found evidence that common food like nuts and seeds may be linked to severe headaches in some people. ‘Tyramine’ is the culprit responsible for causing headaches. It occurs naturally in food due to the breakdown of amino acids and is responsible to trigger an immune response and also results in a headache. Nuts have always been a ‘time pass food’. You are on a boring train journey and want to kill time, and then nuts are your ‘best friends’. However excessive eating of nuts will lead to headache and dizziness. Sometimes, small intake of nuts is sufficient to trigger a headache. Sesame or Pumpkin seeds intake can also lead to Headache. These seeds are added in a few dessert items and can trigger a headache if taken in large amounts. However, in a few people they trigger a headache even if their quantity is significantly low. Such people should identify this particular ‘allergy’ and see to it that they don’t consume these particular seeds in any means. Intake of nuts and seeds causes headache/migraine only in a few people.

8. Fermented Soy Products (Soya Sauce)

 

Soya sauce is a condiment (added to food to give a flavour) produced from a fermented paste of boiled soybeans, roasted grain, brine and Aspergillus Oryzae. After fermentation, the paste is pressed producing a liquid called soya sauce. This originated in China and was used in East and South East Asian Cuisines earlier. Today, it is used in many Western ‘Delicious’ Cuisines. As the western culture has his impact throughout the world, similarly western cuisines with soya sauce as its ingredient has spread throughout the world. If more than 3gm of soya sauce ‘salt’ per Kilogram of bodyweight is found in a human’s body, it can kill that particular human. There have been instances where people were killed after consuming soy sauce excessively. The problem starts with minute headache and may go up to brain swelling and ultimately death. Soya sauce is dangerous even in small amounts. It is mostly used in Manchuria, Chinese Noodles, Noodle Soup, Macaroni and Hotdogs to name a few. Soya sauce can be alternated by Marmite added with water. It gives the same taste and its quite better.

7. Certain Vegetables (Olives)

 

Certain vegetables can also cause headache. One of them is Olive. Olive is a species of a ‘small tree’ and is cultivated in Mediterranean basin, Iraq and Iran. This vegetable is of great agricultural significance because its derivative ‘Olive Oil’ has a great medicinal value. Spain is the biggest producer of Olives. Olives include species such as Jasmine and Lilacs. Olive oil/Olive vegetable is used for hair and skin ‘treatments’. It is also used for body massage. It enhances your skin, makes it glow and keeps your hair strong and ‘forever’. Olive Oil massage will leave you refreshed and revitalised. People use Olive Oil to prevent heart attacks and cancers. However, Olive has a side effect and may lead to headache if exposed to it for a long time or consumed in large quantities. Apart from headache, Olive oil can burn body parts if used excessively.

  6. Aged/Dried/Smoked Meats (Pepperoni)

Pepperoni is an Italian/American food item usually made from cured pork or beef (Chicken/Mutton as well). It is soft, smoky and bright red in colour. Sliced Pepperoni is a famous American Pizza Topping. It is also used in Pepperoni roll and sand witches. Pepperoni pizzas are famous throughout the world and are available at all popular pizza joints. 70,000 pepperoni pizzas are consumed by people every year throughout the world (high). It is high in fat and sodium. It results in weight gain, heartburn apart from headache. It has an effect on unborn babies in the case of the pregnant woman. Pepperoni contains nitrates and nitrates cause headaches initially and migraines at a later stage. Pepperoni has no ‘material’ alternative; so the only alternative is to reduce pepperoni intake. Low pepperoni intake doesn’t harm the body much.

5. Monosodium Glutamate (MSG) – Chinese food

 

Monosodium Glutamate is one of the most abundant naturally occurring non-essential amino acids. It was recognized as safe by the Food and Drug Administration. Industrial food manufacturers market and use it because it balances, blends and rounds the total perception of other tastes. It is commonly called Aji-No-Moto. It is used in Burgers, pizzas, roasted chicken, fast food, French fries and soups. MSG has resulted in doubling the rate of Diabetes, Obesity in children, high blood pressure and strokes. Headaches are just a small part of it. MSG in small content occasionally is fine but consuming MSG continuously will lead to trouble. Trouble includes headache initially that sometimes transforms to migraines in a few people. Doctor’s advice is to eliminate MSG from our diet completely.

4. Aged Cheeses

 

Aged cheese is consumed at various levels. Aged cheese enhances the taste of the dish you prepare. Accordingly, aged cheeses are given different names as per their ‘age’. Tabor cheese is 30 days old, Swiss cheese is 3 months old, Tilsit is 6 months old and so on. Aged cheese is also called the ripen cheese and is formed after the unripened cheese undergoes soaking, curing and heating. It is also hardened at times. This particular cheese is used in making sandwiches, burgers and pizzas. Everybody likes to feed on these items as they are mouth watering. However, they could ‘kill’ us if consumed excessively and continuously. Excessive consumption of Aged cheese leads to weight gain, high blood pressure, dairy allergy, amine sensitivity and headaches. Headaches can be severe and ‘forever’ sometimes

3. Artificial Sweeteners

 

Artificial sweeteners duplicate the taste of sugar usually with less food energy. These are in soft drinks and also as table sugar replacements in restaurants. The Food and Drug is examining it as reports suggest that it poses health problems. Artificial sweeteners have not been approved as food additives. Artificial sweeteners are a blend of chemicals together to give a sweet taste. They are extensively used in ‘Diet’ drinks, soft drinks, candies, puddings, baked items, canned foods and jams. All these have been children’s’ favourite always. These have lots of side effects starting off from headache to heart palpitations to cancer. The headaches are quite severe. They contain an element named ‘Saccharin’ which is responsible for all these.

2. Caffeinated drinks –Energy Drinks

An energy drink is a type of beverage containing stimulant drugs mainly caffeine. They also contain sweeteners and amino acids. They are not carbonated. They provide instant physical and mental stimulation. They might also contain herbs and lots of chemicals. Caffeinated drinks affect heart rates, blood pressure and even mental state. People get addicted to these drinks and its difficult getting rid of them. Red Bull is one famous Energy Drink. Most of the sports players consume these drinks. These days, drinking an energy drink has become a fashion for the young generation. We can see a school going child drink a Red Bull only to ‘show off’ his friends. Red Bull was banned for a while because a basketball player died immediately after consuming the energy drink during a basketball match. Relaxation drinks also contain caffeine, the culprit. Even small amounts of these drinks can lead to dizziness, tremor and headaches. Consumption on a long run can lead to respiratory distress, insomnia and Gastrointestinal upset.

1. Alcohol (Red Wine)

Red wine is made from dark grape varieties and is intense Violet in colour. Red wine production process involves flavour from grape skin. It also involves the grape crushing and destemming. Fermentation and aging are also a part of its production. Red wines are always a part of any ‘rich party’ and compliment the hearty meals. Even a non-alcoholic would be tempted to taste it because of its rich attractive colour, the ‘pride and esteem’ it brings along. It tastes good as well. But, small consumption of red wine gives us acute headache followed by an intense one. The long time side effects are obesity, heart diseases and stroke. Red wine can be ‘once in a blue moon’ but not a ‘daily story’. The ‘graceful’ headache it gives makes it top our list of ‘Top 10 Foods that cause Headache’.

HEALTH - Got a headache? Eat some daisies!

Got a headache? Eat some daisies! From radishes to watercress - plants that can work as well as medicines

• -  Plants, vegetables and flowers can replace some medication
• -  Go natural to beat migraine, joint pain or an upset stomach this summer
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By ROGER DOBSON

PUBLISHED: 21:00 GMT, 22 June 2013 | UPDATED: 00:12 GMT, 23 June 2013

Whether it is high blood pressure, migrane or period pains, it is not always necessary to reach into the medicine cabinet.

Instead take a walk around your garden, as you might find more than one remedy to ease your pain.

Radishes may help you lower your blood pressure and watercress has a proven effect against bronchitis, but there is more to find in your flowerbeds to aid your ailments.

Plant painkiller: Feverfew blocks the release of some of the inflammatory substances believed to contribute to migraines and stops the narrowing of blood vessels

STAVE OFF MIGRAINE WITH... Feverfew

Why it works: This member of the sunflower family contains parthenolides which combat the narrowing of blood vessels that occurs in migraine, according to a University of Maryland report.

Other compounds may also have an anti-inflammatory effect, say researchers at Denver University. Extracts of feverfew block the release of the inflammatory substances serotonin and prostaglandin – thought to contribute to migraines.