Surprising Reasons Your Head is Pounding
Headaches can creep up on us unexpectedly. The usual culprits tend to be, too much alcohol, skimping on sleep and things of the sort. But, studies have shown that there are some new surprising reasons why your head may be hurting. Here are 8 culprits that may be causing you a headache:
1. Hors-d'oeuvres
Foods
that are smoked, pickled, dried or aged - unfortunately all the good
stuff like cheeses, salami and smoked salmon - contain sulfites which
may dilate your blood vessels causing a headache. Wine is also a
surprisingly common allergy, particularly among women, so you may want
to lay off that too.
2. The weekend
This
may seem a little unusual, but when you work your butt off all week,
spending your Saturday nursing yourself from a mini-migraine may seem
rather annoying. But this headache trigger is likely due to a caffeine
withdrawal, especially if you tend to wake up later on weekends, as this
means that your cup of joe is getting into your system later too.
3. Your closest relationships
Relationship
stress can be a big source of head pain. When you're feeling anxious,
we are more likely to take shorter breaths. Consequently, the less
oxygen we inhale, the more the blood vessels constrict, causing a
headache. In addition, stress can make you clench your teeth which
surprisingly can cause tension headaches too.
4. Your computer screen
Staring
at a screen all day puts an enormous amount of strain on your eyes.
Also, the variation in light and the brightness of your screen activates
your retina and the nerves behind your eye, which can cause head pain.
Your posture may also be another trigger for your headaches.
5. The gas station
People
who suffer from headaches may have a sensitivity to a specific smell
which can often trigger a killer headache. The most common scents that
trigger such reactions include gasoline, tobacco, and perfume.
6. Your hairstyle
While
your chignon may look good, it may be causing you a headache if it's
too tight, primarily because ponytails and other up-dos tend to pull on
your scalp, causing tension.
7. Your phone addiction
Looking
down at your iPhone or tablet puts a lot of pressure on your neck which
can trigger a headache at the back of the head and around the temples.
Another cause may be staring at a screen all day too as the time you
spend looking at your phone can intensify eye strain.
8. A beautiful day
At
times, the cause of a headache may be from sunshine on a sunny summer
day, or the sun's reflection on the snow. The glare can interfere with
your brain's thalamus, the area of the brain that sends pain signals to
your body causing an instant ache.