The A to Z of Headaches

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6 Common Headache Triggers
By Wendy Simons

1. Fatigue and exertion: Fatigue caused by exertion or lack of adequate rest can induce a migraine headache, know as effort migraine. It can develop in some people immediately after an excessive workout or other strenuous activity such as playing football or lifting heavy weights.

Tension-type headaches may also be induced by exercise. For people experiencing an acute headache, even the mildest form of exercise can exacerbate the degree of pain, usually due to the increased blood flow to the already dilated arteries. Prolonged exercise may also produce an intense headache with nausea and vomiting.

Exercise induced headache is described as very severe but of short duration lasting from a few seconds to a few minutes. To avoid this type of migraine, do a 5 to 10 minute warm-up before working out and include a brief cool-down period after the main exercise. Condition gradually, because pushing above one's normal fitness level can precipitate a headache.

2. Odors: Many female migraine sufferers will complain of odor sensitivity during a migraine attack, particularly during aura. They will also state that particular odors such as cigar or cigarette smoke, paint, gasoline fumes, tar, or asphalt may trigger an attack. Unfortunately it may be the pleasant odor from a candle, perfume, cologne, aftershave lotion, or fragrances added to hair spray and shampoo that can trigger a headache.

3. Smoking: Smoking initiates or exacerbates the symptoms of headache. Chronic daily headaches are more common among those who smoke compared to nonsmokers. There also appears to be a high incidence of smokers in groups of cluster-headache sufferers.

4. Medications: Some medication used for coexisting medical illnesses may trigger a headache, including reserpine, nitrates, and other vasodilators [used in cardiac medications), indomethacin, and hormone supplements. Many migraine attacks are also induced by the use of illicit drugs, especially cocaine or heroin.

5. Weather changes: Many headache sufferers identify seasonal and weather changes as headache triggers. There is a marked tendency for cluster headaches during spring and fall, and many migraine sufferers note that adverse weather conditions will influence an acute attack. There has also been a correlation between headaches and hot, dry winds.

6. Other triggers: Many headache sufferers will complain of severe head pain when they take a plane or stay in regions of high altitude, such as on a ski vacation. Motion sickness has also been known to precipitate migraine, especially in children. Up to 60% of migraine sufferers report a history of motion sickness as children.

Author Details:
Wendy Simons, writes for various websites, mainly about skin care, microdermabrasion and other health matters. If you are looking for further information try these migraine articles from Simply Top

Source: The A to Z of Headaches

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