What triggers nagging headaches?

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.