Preventing Headaches

Millions of people suffer from headaches on a daily basis-most of them are women. Headaches can be triggered by a variety of different things and each person responds to outside stimulus differently. They can be caused by diet, stress, lack of sleep, stiff muscles in the neck or back, and dehydration. Commonly, headaches are brought on by diet. Changing your diet is the single most effective way to rid yourself of headaches or prevent them from happening.

Doctors have identified different foods which are commonly found to cause headaches. There is quite a long list of headache-causing foods, but the main ones are chocolate, wine, beverages with caffeine, MSG, aspartame (sugar substitute), cured meats, aged cheese, nuts, alcohol, and ice cream. Start by eliminating these foods from your diet as much as possible and see if you notice a difference. If you are a coffee addict, start by decreasing the amount you drink each day or substitute it with herbal tea.  Researchers have also found that some foods may prevent headaches-especially migraines. Fish contains high amounts of Omega 3 fatty acids which is not only great for headache prevention but good for your heart as well.  If you don’t like the taste of fish, supplements are available.

Along with changing your diet, there are numerous other preventative measures that you can take which have been found to be highly successful. Exercising regularly, managing stress, and getting regular massages have all been found to have an impact on both the frequency and intensity of headaches. Acupuncture is also highly recommended if you are a regular headache sufferer. In one study, 18 of 26 people suffering from migraine headaches showed an improvement in symptoms after being treated through acupuncture.