| Headache is a condition of pain in the head; | | | | suffer frequently. Hypoglycaemia (low blood sugar, |
| sometimes neck or upper back pain may also be | | | | hunger) is a common cause of headache. Triggers |
| interpreted as a headache. Headaches can have a | | | | can be made worse by adding stressors, such as |
| wide range of causes and many levels of | | | | lack of sleep and eye strain. Eat a well-balanced |
| severity. Headache involves the network of nerve | | | | diet. Avoid chewing gum, ice cream, iced drinks, |
| fibers in the tissues, muscles, and blood vessels | | | | salt and excessive sunlight. Practice deep-breathing |
| located in the head and at the base of the skull. | | | | exercises. A lack of oxygen can cause headaches. |
| There are two types of headaches: primary | | | | Try eliminating foods containing tyramine and the |
| headaches and secondary headaches. Primary | | | | amino acid phenylalanine. Then reintroduce one |
| headaches are not associated with (caused by) | | | | food at a time and see which ones produce |
| other diseases. Tension headaches are the most | | | | headaches. |
| common type of primary headache; as many as | | | | Eat a high fibre diet and include extra fibre in the |
| 90% have had or will have tension headaches. | | | | form of supplements. A nutrient called tyramine |
| Migraine headaches are the second most common | | | | which is found in many foods and beverages |
| type of primary headache. An estimated 28 million | | | | (aged cheese, bananas, beef, chicken livers, |
| people in the United States (about 12% of the | | | | chocolate, eggplant, pickled herring, soy sauce, |
| population) will experience migraine headaches. | | | | sour cream, cured meats, certain champagnes |
| Migraine headaches affect children. Before | | | | and red wine), as well as some food additives- |
| puberty, boys and girls are affected equally by | | | | monosodium glutamate(MSG) used in Chinese |
| migraine headaches, but after puberty, more | | | | restaurants as a flavor-enhancer, and nitrate and |
| women than men are affected. Cluster headaches | | | | nitrite used to preserve cured meats are also |
| are non-throbbing and usually are felt on one side | | | | known to trigger headaches and migraines. The |
| of the head behind an eye. | | | | most important factor is probably emotional |
| Cluster headaches affect about 1 million people in | | | | stress. The most often stated cause of |
| the United States. More common in men, they | | | | headaches is caffeine. Triggers can be made |
| can happen over several days and usually last 30 | | | | worse by adding stressors, such as lack of sleep |
| to 45 minutes. In the United States, over 45 | | | | and eye strain. Either too much or too little |
| million people including more than the 33 million | | | | caffeine can cause problems. Often food, or lack |
| sufferers of asthma, diabetes, and heart | | | | of food, can be a trigger to a headache. |
| disease--experience chronic, recurring headaches. | | | | Magnesium, found in beans and whole grains, |
| Approximately 6 million of those women have | | | | beans, nuts, avocado and spinach is necessary |
| what are called "menstrual migraines." Menstrual | | | | and too little magnesium may cause headaches |
| migraines occur around the time of ovulation and | | | | and migraines. In addition, a B vitamin called |
| or menstruation. Most people experience | | | | riboflavin may reduce headaches occurrences. |
| headaches at least occasionally, whilst some | | | | |