A Diary May Reveal What Causes Headaches

If you are prone to suffering from headaches,your headaches. So record your hours and what
consider keeping a daily headache diary that willyou did as best as you can in your headache
help you and your doctor identify what will triggerdiary.
your attacks. Headache triggers can include certainOther headache triggers that you might discover
foods, activities, environmental factors andby keeping a journal include skipping meals, lack of
hormonal changes. Certain movements thatsleep, changes in the weather or air pollution. You
involve neck or other previous injuries can alsomight discover that you get headaches at the
bring on a headache.workplace, but once you are home, the
Certain Foods May Trigger Headachesheadaches disappear. It might be that dust
Be sure to note your daily diet in your headacheparticles spewed out of the office's air conditioning
diary. After awhile, you might see some patternssystem are triggering your headaches, or the
emerge.type of lighting may be triggering a headache.
Although there is no plausible scientific reason forOther environmental factors that may give you a
it, MSG tends to trigger headaches in manyheadache can include high altitudes, loud noises,
people. Some people suffer migraines after theystrong odors and certain perfumes. Cigarette
ingest MSG. MSG is prevalent in Asian restaurantssmoke is a known headache trigger that affects
and processed foods. Foods like frozen pizza,smokers and non-smokers alike.
potato chips, clam chowder and bullion cubes areHormones Will Sometimes Fuel Raging Headaches
likely to contain MSG. Be sure to check the labelsWomen are much more prone to migraine
on your foods.headaches than men. As a matter of fact, 75%
You might discover that processed meats suchof all migraine sufferers are women. It is believed
as lunch meat or sausage might also trigger yourthat the hormonal changes that women
headaches. The nitrates that are included in theseexperience every month trigger headaches and in
foods -- and even in your local water supply --particular, migraine headaches. For some reason,
are thought to be headache triggers.most women with a history of migraines can
If you decide to quit drinking coffee, especially iftrace their first headache back to puberty. The
you've enjoyed it for years, chances are that youmigraines tend to lessen and sometimes disappear
will suffer headaches for a few days due toaltogether after menopause. Women should note
caffeine withdrawal. On the other hand, caffeinetheir cycles in their headache diaries to determine
may trigger headaches for some people. Otherif hormones are the cause of recurring headaches.
known headache triggers include beer, red wine,Old Injuries and Recurring Headaches
aged cheese, and pickled foods. Chocolate mayYou might find that certain weight lifting routines
also be a headache trigger.or using a certain pillow at night might trigger a
Activities and Environmental Factors That Mayheadache because previous back, neck or
Trigger Headachesshoulder injuries are aggravated. When you
The most difficult thing to record in yourconsult with your doctor about your recurring
headache diary may be your activities, especially ifheadaches, be sure to mention all injuries that
they are mundane activities such as sitting at theyour have suffered, even if you think the injuries
computer. However, eye strain, poor posture andare insignificant.
stress at the workplace may be contributing to