Srinagar, Oct 26: Kashmir-based medico cum noted health columnist Dr Tasaduk Hussain Itoo Thursday said that recognizing the various triggers for headache, documenting and trying to avoid them — is the best way to prevent headache episodes or decrease their frequency.
He said that there are many possible triggers responsible for augmenting headaches in general and tension and migraine headaches in particular — including physical, emotional, environmental, dietary, hormonal and medicinal factors.
“The physical triggers include excessive tiredness, getting an inadequate sleep, random shift work schedule, poor posture (neck or shoulder tension), strenuous exercise; while as the emotional triggers include stress, anxiety, depression”, he said.
“The environmental triggers include bright lights, flickering screens with more screentime (television or computer screen), smoking (or smoky rooms), loud noises, sudden changes in climate — such as changes in humidity or very cold temperatures, strong smells, a stuffy atmosphere”, he said.
Talking about the dietary factors he said these include — missed, delayed or irregular meals, dehydration, alcohol consumption, excessive intake of caffeine products (tea and coffee) and their sudden withdrawal, excessive intake of specific foods (chocolate and citrus fruit), excessive intake of foods containing the substance tyramine (cured meats, pickled herrings, smoked fish and certain cheeses).
He further said that triggers are very individual/personalized and can be possible factors for augmenting tension/migraine headaches, however it may be helpful to keep a diary to document and identify a consistent trigger.
“Frequent use of over-the-counter pain killer medications can also act as a trigger and lead to medication overuse headaches or rebound headaches”, he said.
