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Headaches: Warning Signs, Triggering Factors, Suspect Foods

Some of these tips might enable you to manage headache occurrences better.

Early Warning Signs

Just prior to a headache there are early warning signs of its onset. If you can recognize early warning signs in yourself and immediately take your medication, you may reduce headache intensity and shorten its duration. Some early warning signs are listed below.

Visual disturbances: double vision, difficulty in focusing, temporary partial blindness, dazzling display of colored lights, spots or lines Dizziness Hallucinations Nausea Vomiting Numbness Tingling Sensitivity to noise or light Depression Irritability and tension Alterations in mood and outlook Feeling of exaggerated well-being Uncommon energy and vigor

Unusual hunger: desire for snacks, etc. Yawning Trembling Feeling of weakness Excitability Talkativeness Difficulties in speaking Pains in neck or shoulders Blotchy patches on skin or rashes Unusual pallor, especially in children Noticeable increase in weight Swelling of fingers, waist, or breasts Increase in frequency and volume of urination

Triggering Factors

Life styles are often associated with the cause of the headache. These triggering factors can cause headache and if recognized and avoided might stop the impending headache. The list below gives some headache triggering factors.

Anxiety Worry Emotion Depression Shock Alcohol Excitement Over-exertion Physical or mental fatigue Bending or stooping, as in gardening Lifting heavy weights or straining of any sort Change of routine, e.g. holidays, shift-work, change of job Late rising, especially weekends or on vacation Travel Prolonged focusing on TV or movie screen

Bright sunlight, bright artificial light or glare of any kind, fluorescent light Very hot baths Noise-particularly loud and high pitched sounds Intense odors or penetrating smells Use of sleeping tablets Prolonged lack of food-fasting or dieting Irregular meals Menstruation and the pre-menstrual period Menopause High blood pressure Continued use of oral contraceptives Toothache and other local pains in head or neck Change of climate Change in weather High winds

Suspect Foods

Foods are also implicated in the cause of headache. From previous experience with headaches, you may already suspect which foods are triggers for you. Here is a list of common foods that may provoke headaches.

Food Type	Examples
aged cheese	Cheddar, brick, Mozzarella, Gruyere, Stilton, Brie, Camembert, Boursault
alcohol	beer, wine (especially red), liquor
caffeine	coffee, tea, cola, certain over-the-counter analgesics and other medications
chocolate	sweets, foods, drinks
concentrated sugar	sweets, cookies, cake
dairy products	milk, ice cream, yogurt, cream, cheeses (aged)
fermented pickled foods	herring, sour cream, yogurt, vinegar, marinated meats (cold cuts)
fruits	bananas, plantain, avocado, figs, passion fruit, raisins, pineapple, oranges, and most citrus
meats with nitrates	bologna, hot dogs, pepperoni, salami, pastrami, bacon, sausages, canned ham, corned beef, smoked fish
Monosodium Glutamate (MSG)	Chinese food, Accent, Lawry's Seasonal Salt, instant foods such as canned soup, TV dinner, processed meats, roasted nuts, potato chips
Nutrasweet/saccharin	soft drinks, diet foods
sulfites	salad bars, shrimp, soft drinks, certain wines
vegetables	onions, pods of broad beans (lima, new), pea pods, nuts, peanuts
yeast products	yeast extracts- fresh breads, raised coffee cakes, doughnuts