From The Little Niggles To The Throbbing Pain: How To Dodge That Banging Headache

Nothing spells out ‘day-ruiner’ like a pounding headache.

If we’re at work, we just want to go home and if we’re at home, we just want our beds. We instantly become ratty with the people around us and feel childish for using our ‘head-ache’ as an excuse. No amount of water will cure it and there’s only so many pills we can pop in one day.

So why don’t we try and avoid the headache in the first place? Don’t they say prevention is always better than the cure...?

Why not take a few minutes out of your day to learn how to AVOID the headache in the first place?

1. Manage Your Stress Level

Stress is the number one cause of tension headaches. Since it’s impossible to avoid stress full-stop, why not manage it instead? Try techniques like deep breathing, yoga, visualisation and massage, these can help many people de-stress for headache prevention. Sometimes, just a simple sitting back, closing your eyes, breathing deep and relaxing can work too. Just take care doing it at your work desk, we don’t want people thinking you’re nodding off…

2. Keep A Routine

Establish a regular pattern of sleep with regular bedtimes and wake-up times. Some people experience headaches when they change their sleeping patterns at the weekend. If you are sleeping for six hours or less a night, your headache could be caused by too little snooze.

Keep your sleeping hours regular... she looks so comfy!

3. Avoid Hunger

This makes complete sense. Skipping meals means your blood sugar can take a swift nose dive, which can trigger a headache. Sugar can also cause a sharp rise in blood sugar before bottoming out. Keep it simple and stabilise your blood sugar with well-balance meals that include protein and carbohydrates.

4. Keep On Top Of Your Fluids

Drink plenty of fluids, particularly water, because dehydration us a major cause of headaches. And that doesn’t include a glass of wine or a cup of coffee. Even if you’re not thirsty, sip at water during the day. If you feel thirsty, you are already moderately dehydrated.

5. Exercise Regularly

Keep on top of your exercise regime. Exercise regularly not only improves fitness, but also reduces stress and tension headaches. The key is regular, moderate exercise.

6. Watch Your Caffeine And Alcohol Consumption

Take not of our point above about drinking plenty of water! Increasing or decreasing caffeine intake can also result in a headache. If you do drink alcohol, keep the intake at a moderate level.

Put down the cup! Or opt for decaff like Her.ie's columnist Georgine Ahern.

7. Limit Your Exposure To Smoke

Limit your exposure to cigarette smoke. Even second-hand smoke can cause the brain’s blood vessels to narrow, which results in a pounding headache on one side of your head called cluster headaches.

8. Know Your Triggers

We all have different headache triggers. What might affect one person, mightn’t affect the next at all. Understand whether it is food that is your trigger. Determine whether it is strong smells that can lead to your head pounder. Notice if it is the weather that might have an effect on you, low barometric pressure (just before it rains) or high temperatures can also lead to headaches.

9. Learn To Share

It might not seem important, but if you have a problem or if something is niggling your mind, share it. A problem shared is a problem halved they say! Try to get to the root of your feeling and make some changes to your lifestyle, sort out the problem sooner rather than later.

10. Keep Headache Free In The Office Too...

Learn to sit with your knees lower than your hips, and with head to tail alignment. Sounds difficult, but once you start it, it will be easy to keep up.

If you hold a telephone with one ear, get a headset or use a hands free option.

If you carry your bag on one shoulder only, switch it up! Your back will thank you too...