Answers to Common Headache Questions

For some people, headaches are becoming an everyday part of life. Statistics show that 45 million Americans get chronic headaches yearly. 20 million of those are women. Here are some answers to common headache questions.

Do Foods Cause Headaches?

Absolutely. Common headache triggering foods include caffeine, cured meats, citrus fruits, yogurt, aged cheese and liver. Aspartame, an artificial sweetener, has been said to cause headaches in some users. MSG has long been known to cause headaches. While many people know that MSG is found in Chinese food, not everyone knows it is also found in canned soup, meat tenderizers, self-basting turkeys and frozen dinners. If you've been drinking a lot of beverages containing caffeine and try to quit, you're likely to experience horrible headaches for a little while.

How Can You Tell if Food is Causing Headaches?

Remove all known trigger foods from your diet. Avoid them for at least 30 days. If at the end of that time, your headaches haven't changed, food obviously isn't the culprit.

If your headaches have lessened or even stopped at the end of the 30 days, then one or more trigger foods were contributing to them. If you wish to identify the trigger food(s), introduce them back into your diet one food at a time. If a headache flares up, you've identified a food you should avoid.

How Come the Headache Pain Reliever I've Always Used Isn't Working Anymore?

Relying too much for too long on over-the-counter products like aspirin and acetaminophen interferes with the body's natural ability to fight headaches. You could actually be making your headaches worse.

If you've been taking such products often and quit taking them, you could face as long as 3 weeks of withdrawal symptoms. Anytime you find yourself needing pain relievers more than four times a week, see a physician.

Do Birth Control Pills Cause Headaches?

Yes, but not as often as they used to. In recent years, birth control medication formulations have been changed. The newer lo-dose birth control pills do not appear to cause headaches as often. If you are taking birth control pills and experience frequent headaches, do tell your physician.

Can Getting Up Early Cause Headaches?

Yes. Interruptions in the sleep cycle can result in headaches. Staying up late or getting up early can give you a headache.

Does Exercise Help Prevent Headaches?

Yes. The same exercise workout that strengthens the cardiovascular system and muscles also helps prevent headaches.

Does Staring at the Computer All Day Cause Headaches?

Headaches from computer work are more likely to be migraines brought on by the bright fluorescent lighting that most companies have over the computers.

Could My Sinus Headaches Be Migraines Instead?

Yes. Many people who blame their frequent headaches on sinus problems are actually experiencing migraines. Try keeping a headache record, recording time, duration and what you were doing when the headache occurred. Then discuss the record and the headaches with your physician.

Life itself can be a headache at times. If you experience frequent headaches, see a physician. Consider using lavender or other natural methods to treat your headaches. Avoid taking more than the recommended dosage of over-the-counter pain relievers.