What causes my headaches?
Some headaches are caused or “triggered” in a variety of ways. For some headache sufferers, changes in weather as well as odors, foods, alcoholic beverages, stress, and other factors may “trigger” headaches. Some triggers are more common than others ? alcohol, sugar, chocolate, fatty foods, and citrus fruits are among them.
A friend told me that poor posture could be the cause of my frequent headaches. Is that true?
Definitely. Many people get headaches or make their headaches worse because of poor posture. If you hold your head up in proper alignment with your body, there’s less strain on your muscles. But if it is held forward of its proper position, it places strain on the muscles of the neck and upper back. Certain positions can lead to muscle strain and headache if they’re held for a time. If you hold a particular position such as bending over a keyboard, or holding the phone between your shoulder and your head, or doing any type of repetitive movement, you could be vulnerable to headache. One way to counteract these stresses is to change position frequently. Every 45 minutes or so, give yourself a three to five minute “break.” Get up from your desk and walk to the copy machine or do some filing, anything as long as you change positions.
Why does Excedrin? contain caffeine?
Caffeine has been found to enhance the pain relieving function of aspirin and acetaminophen when used in combination as in Excedrin? Extra Strength.
Can allergies cause headaches?
The relationship between allergies and headaches is generally related to allergy symptoms. Some headaches do occur at the same time as allergies, particularly when grass, pollen, or ragweed counts are high. Headache specialists tend to agree that allergies are usually not the cause of severe or recurrent headaches. Sinus headaches are more likely to occur as the result of the buildup of mucus in the sinus cavities. You should see a doctor to determine an appropriate treatment.
