What is a Headache?
Headache is defined as pain in the head or upper neck. It is one of the most common locations of pain in the body and has many causes.
Headaches are due to tight, contracted muscles in your shoulders, neck, scalp, and jaw. They are often related to stress, depression, or anxiety. Overworking, not getting enough sleep, missing meals, and using alcohol or street drugs can make you more susceptible to them. Headaches can be triggered by chocolate, cheese, and monosodium glutamate (MSG). People who drink caffeine can have headaches when they don't get their usual daily amount.
Other common causes include:
- Holding your head in one position for a long time, like at a computer, microscope, or typewriter
- Poor sleep position
- Overexerting yourself
- Clenching or grinding your teeth
Common Types Of Headache :
- Tension headache
- Cluster headache
- Migraine with aura
- Migraine without aura
Tension headaches tend to be on both sides of your head. They often start at the back of your head and spread forward. The pain may feel dull or squeezing, like a tight band or vice. Your shoulders, neck, or jaw may feel tight and sore.
Migraine headaches are severe, recurrent headaches generally accompanied by other symptoms like visual disturbances or nausea. They tend to begin on one side of your head, although the pain may spread to both sides. You may have an "aura" (warning symptoms that start before your headache) and feel throbbing, pounding, or pulsating pain.
Cluster headaches are sharp, extremely painful headaches that tend to occur several times per day for months and then go away for a similar period. They are far less common.
Sinus headaches cause pain in the front of your head and face. They are due to inflammation in the sinus passages that lie behind the cheeks, nose, and eyes. The pain tends to be worse when you bend forward and when you first wake up in the morning. Postnasal drip, sore throat, and nasal discharge usually occur with these headaches.Headaches may occur if you have a cold, the flu, fever, or premenstrual syndrome.
9 Foods That Can Help Soothe a Headache
When a headache strikes, you may run through your usual routine: Turn out the lights, lie down and pop a pain pill. But did you know that certain foods may ease, and even prevent, headaches? Add these soothing foods to your shopping list and find out for yourself.
1. Baked Potato
The side you love with dinner could help soothe your aching head, especially if your headache is alcohol-related,since alcohol is a diuretic, it can not only cause dehydration, but also cause you to lose electrolytes such as potassiums.Eating potassium-rich foods can help to alleviate hangover-related headaches.Srprisingly, a baked potato (with the skin) is one of the most impressive sources of potassium, containing a whopping 721 mg.
2. Watermelon
Dehydration is a major cause of headaches,so instead of popping a pain pill next time your head throbs, consider reaching for water-rich foods, like watermelon. The natural water contained in both fruits and vegetables contains essential minerals, like magnesium, that are key in headache prevention,Try this tasty, hydrating watermelon smoothie: In a blender, combine 2 cups seeded watermelon chunks, 1 cup cracked ice, ½ cup plain yogurt, a drizzle of honey and ½ tsp grated ginger. Blend and enjoy.Other foods with high water content include berries, cucumber, melon, soups, oatmeal, tomatoes and lettuce.
3. Coffee
The caffeine in coffee is a vasoconstrictor, it can help alleviate a headache by helping to reduce the size of the blood vessels.Too much coffee could make matters worse.Caffeine is also a diuretic, which can increase dehydration and increase the severity of a headache,
The bottom line:" One cup of coffee may be helpful for decreasing hangover-related headaches, but drinking coffee throughout the day would not be the best choice for curing a headache.”
4. Whole-Grain Toast
Low-carb dieters beware: Too little carbohydrates and you might bring on a headache.When you follow a low-carbohydrate diet, you begin to deplete glycogen stores, which are a main source of energy to the brain,this also causes an increase in fluid losses from the body, which can trigger dehydration. By reducing energy to the brain and causing dehydration, these low-carbohydrate diets can trigger headaches. When one hits, consider reaching for healthy carbs, such as those found in whole-wheat bread, oatmeal, fruit or yogurt.
5. Almonds
According to past research, magnesium, found in almonds, may protect your body from the brunt of a headache by relaxing blood vessels. Migraine sufferers may also experience relief by following a diet rich in magnesium, some experts believe.To increase your magnesium intake, try consuming magnesium-rich foods such as bananas, dried apricots, avocados, almonds, cashews, brown rice, legumes and seeds.
6. Spicy Salsa
It may sound unusual, but spicy foods such as salsa and hot peppers may help you snap back from a headache faster.Depending on the type of headache, spicy foods may be helpful,If a headache is due to sinus congestion, spicy foods may help to decrease congestion and open the airways, helping to decrease pressure and the accompanying headache.
7. Yogurt
When your head is pounding, your body may be calling out for calcium,the brain depends on calcium to function efficiently,Make sure you are consuming calcium-rich foods, like fat-free plain Greek yogurt, which is a great source of calcium,with no added sugars and beneficial probiotics for your gut.
8. Sesame Seeds
Sprinkle them on salads, in oatmeal or on top of soups and stir-fries. Why? These tiny seeds pack a big nutritional punch. “Sesame seeds are rich in vitamin E, which may help to stabilize estrogen levels and prevent migraines during your period,It also improves circulation, which helps prevent headaches.Sesame seeds are also rich in magnesium, which may give them added headache-preventing power.
9. Spinach Salad
What worked for Popeye may work for your headache. “Spinach has been shown to help decrease blood pressure, prevent hangovers and may help to alleviate headaches.Try using spinach leaves instead of lettuce for a headache-preventing power salad.This summer salad is packed with headache-soothing foods: Toss together 2 cups spinach leaves, 3/4 cups cubed watermelon, 1/2 cup chopped dried apricots and 2 Tbsp chopped walnuts or almonds, and drizzle with raspberry vinaigrette.
