What triggers nagging headaches?

Maria Endah Hulupi, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Do you have recurring headaches?

If so, you should begin analyzing your condition. This should include the situations in which headaches occur, and how frequently the attacks can be linked to routine things, like cold drinks, food and exposure to the sun.

"Once we know the pattern, one can prevent pain by avoiding things that can serve as a trigger," according to Bayu Hie, a consultant with Century Health Care.

Headaches, he said, are mainly the result of conditions (or illnesses) that affect the nerves and pain-sensitive areas in the head and neck.

They can also be set off by the dilatation of blood vessels, or an increase of pressure under the skull, among other things.

Possible headache-inducing conditions in the office or at home include poor lighting, and poor posture during work.

"Poor lighting forces the eyes to work harder to be able to read -- this leads to headaches," Bayu explained, while adding that near and far-sighted people with poorly prescribed eye glasses will develop similar headaches.

Poor posture, most commonly when working at a computer terminal, can also cause headaches (on top of neck stiffness, of course), which may constrict the flow of blood to the neck and head.

Some foods are also on the list of headache-inducing factors, mainly due to their vasoactive properties that affect blood vessels in the head and brain.

"Salty foods can spark headaches for those with hypertension, as it can lead to osmosis that, in turn, would increase the water level in the blood vessels, causing headaches," he said.

Sensitive people, Bayu explained, may also suffer what is known as the Chinese restaurant syndrome contributed to by monosodium glutamate (MSG), which can affect sensitive nerves in the brain.

"You can replace MSG with sugar to enhance flavor, but be careful as too much sugar can also lead to a headache," he said, adding that food preservatives and artificial food colorings are also on the list.

There are few reports that spicy food and herbs can spark head pain.

Bayu also explained that, although caffeine is one of the substances used to soothe headaches, coffee can trigger a headache when drunken excessively. The effect is temporary, however, and should subside when the caffeine abates.

"Alcohol can cause a headache and loss of balance because it has a different weight volume compared with body liquid, and it creates liquid imbalance in fluid-filled chambers inside the ear," said Bayu.

Dehydration is believed to have an effect on blood pressure, and people who participate in strenuous physical activities are also prone to suffer headaches owing to loss of body fluids and ion imbalance.

"This is why drinking water is not enough to replace the loss of body fluid, as they also need ion supply which can be fulfilled by consuming isotonic drink," he added.

Aside from triggering headaches from hypertension, a lack of sleep can bring on headaches in normal people from fatigue.

On the other hand, head pain can develop from sleeping too much; this is caused by a drop of blood-sugar level following a delay in eating.

Sensitive people can suffer head pains, triggered by loud noises or smells, like strong and offensive odors, perfumes, pollutants, cigarette smoke (because of nicotine).

Intense heat from sun exposure can likewise dilate blood vessels in the head and neck, triggering headaches, Bayu said, while overly cold temperatures or drinking cold water can affect the nerves on sensitive people.

Migraines (a pulsating sensation, usually on one side of the head, often accompanied with other symptoms) can occur during pre-menstrual syndrome and from taking contraceptive pills that can cause hormonal changes or imbalance.

Some people develop headaches and dizziness every time they are in crowded areas.

Bayu explained that this may be caused by a lack of oxygen that can affect the functioning of the brain. "But this condition can be eased by breathing technique techniques which help improve the oxygen supply to the head and brain," he said.

Other possible factors are wearing tight sunglasses or a head bands, head trauma, or watching a flickering scene on TV.

Common over-the-counter medicines for headaches contain paracetamol, or salicylic acid, among others, which can soothe the pain at least six hours after ingestion.

"But if the pain persists, it is advisable to consult with a physician for a proper diagnosis and immediate treatment; this is very important, because various illnesses -- from influenza to brain tumors -- can also trigger headaches," Bayu cautioned.