Surprising Headache Causes & Triggers

The causes and triggers of frequent headaches can be hard to pin down.

We can easily get bogged down working out what type of headache we have plus the meaning of different headache locations and end up stuck on painkillers.

But we often miss big clues to the root causes of our headaches in :

1. Other symptoms we never think to connect with headaches
2. Little habits that are actually surprisingly big headache risks.

So I have for you here a guide to common trigger symptoms and habits that will hopefully help you get to the bottom of what causes your headaches, tackle the triggers and ditch the painkillers for good.

NOT MEDICAL ADVICE

This post is NOT qualified medical advice. Unexplained and recurrent headaches can be symptoms of serious illness. Always see your doctor if you suffer unexplained, severe or recurrent headaches.

Surprising Headache Causes

Bad headaches can be caused by all sorts of things going on in our body.

So hit with a headache we do need headache relief – whether pain killers or DIY headache teas – but must also focus on other symptoms.

We might never imagine burping or a sore big toe could be the root cause of a headache but they can!!

Next time you have a headache think if you’re experiencing any of these :

1. Constipation
2. Excess Stomach Gas
3. Muscle, Nerve & Joint Pain
4. Foot Problems
5. Eye Problems
6. PMS, Perimenopause or Menopause
7. High Blood Pressure
8. Sinus Congestion

Constipation

Persistent constipation is a common cause of headaches. Painkillers can make these headaches worse as they can contribute to constipation.

Some PMS headaches can actually be a symptom of constipation which often occurs just before periods.

So if you do have difficult bowel movements quick constipation relief may be the cure for your headache.

Excess Gas & Burping

Excess stomach gas is a surprisingly common cause of bad headaches.

We overload our gut with gas from:

• Sugar
• Sodas
• Alcohol

But also in apparently healthy :

• Juices & smoothies
• High fibre vegan & veggie diets
• Probiotics & fermented food.

Excess gas can destabilise histamine levels making us sensitive to histamine headaches triggered by both high and low histamine food e.g. tomatoes, onions, garlic.

So if you suffer with excess gas these natural gastritis treatments may help to heal your headaches.

Muscle, Nerve Or Joint Pain

Muscle, nerve and joint pain can all lie behind headaches. The root cause can be any of these :

1. Neck & Shoulder Tension
2. Lower Back Strain
3. Sciatica
4. Knee Problems

Neck & Shoulder Tension

Anyone working at a desk or in awkward head positions e.g. mechanics, decorators, plumbers is at risk of headaches from stiff necks and shoulder tension.

We can prevent headaches with:

• Frequent quick breaks
• Short daily walks
• Simple shoulder & neck massage
• Heat packs
• Cold packs
• On job shoulder & neck exercises

Lower Back Strain

Strain in the piriformis muscle in our lower back can twist our spine and central nervous system which in turn can trigger headaches.

So sometimes fixing lower back pain is key to shifting the headaches.

Sciatica

Sciatic nerve pain in our back and legs is also often tied to lower back piriformis muscle strain PLUS a twisted spine and can again be the underlying cause of headaches.

To shift the headaches we need to identify the root causes of sciatica.

Knee Problems

Swollen or strained knees can also be a root cause of headaches as they unbalance our gait which twists our hip and spinal cord resulting in pressure on nerves in the neck.

Foot Problems

Small foot problems really can be the cause of headaches. Who knew?

Painful verrucas, foot warts and bunions can slightly change our gait as we avoid putting pressure on them leading again to twists in our spine and pressure on nerves.

It is easy to ignore foot care but it can have a big impact on health from midlife onwards.

Eye Problems

Headaches are often caused by various forms of eye strain such as:

1. Declining eyesight
2. Stigmatism
3. Screen strain.

So regular eye tests and simple eye exercises can help prevent and get to the bottom of headaches.

PMS, Perimenopause & Menopause

Periods, perimenopause and menopause can all bring bad headaches. We usually assume the headaches are due to hormone imbalance in our menstrual cycle but the root cause can also be :

• Iron deficiency
• Or constipation.

Both are common during periods, perimenopause and menopause. So do tackle constipation symptoms and boost your iron levels if you don’t eat much or any red meat.

High Blood Pressure

High blood pressure is a common cause of headaches that needs qualified medical advice as it’s a risk factor for heart attacks and strokes.

Our blood pressure varies so may not be raised when measured by doctors. A home monitor lets us keep an eye on it and test when we actually have a headache.

Sinus Congestion

Sinus congestion is a common cause of painful sinus headaches but there are lots of quick natural sinus relief remedies we can whip up from very basic kitchen ingredients.

Lifestyle Headache Triggers

We all know that certain lifestyle choices, like drinking too much, can trigger headaches but other lifestyle choices – including some that we think of as healthy – can be triggers for repeated headaches :

1. Little time outdoors
2. Too much caffeine
3. Eating little or no red meat
4. Lack of green vegetables
5. Way too much sugar
6. Overdoing tomatoes
7. Overdoing garlic & onions

Little Time Outdoors

If we spend little time outdoors or are always covered up we can end up with a big vitamin D deficiency that triggers headaches.

But vitamin D supplements may not stop the headaches as actual daylight is also critical for sleep and the anti-inflammatory processes that take place whilst we sleep.

Poor sleep from lack of daylight daily can trigger long term headaches.

So tackle your headaches by spending more time outside. Whenever you can eat outside, hang out outside and walk more every day.

Too Much Caffeine

Caffeine is one of those little habits that can help headaches in moderation but trigger nightmare headaches in excess. And many of us drink way too much. The FSA caffeine guideline is equivalent to just two double espressos!

Excess caffeine can trigger headaches in the evening and withdrawal headaches can kick in after 21 hours. Severe headaches that wake us up in the early morning can be caffeine headaches.

To prevent these headaches very gradually reduce caffeine intake over a 3 or 4 week period :

1. Drink a little less daily
2. Dilute coffee with milk or water
3. Stay well hydrated with water
4. Switch to a lower caffeine brand
5. Keep adding a little more decaf to your coffee if brewing your own until it is all decaf.

It is best not to go cold turkey as full withdrawal headaches are hideous!

Eating Little Or No Red Meat

A diet with little or no red meat can be the root cause of headaches and is a common issue for women.

We may feel we eat well and have a healthy lifestyle but without red meat we can end up deficient in :

• Iron
• B2 Riboflavin
• B6
• B12
• Zinc
• CoQ10

Deficiency in any of these can trigger recurrent headaches. Unfortunately multi-vitamin supplements don’t always help as our bodies don’t absorb the minerals, especially iron, as well as we do from food.

So if you don’t eat red meat and have headaches it is worth testing for shortfalls and boosting food rich in iron and other key minerals.

Severe headaches during periods and perimenopause can be triggered by persistent iron deficiency.

Lack Of Green Vegetables

We can be vulnerable to headaches if we don’t reliably get a good daily dose of green leafy vegetables.

Leafy greens are rich in a range of minerals including magnesium that prevents inflammatory headaches.

For delicious ways to boost magnesium check out these recipes for leafy greens of all sorts :

Way Too Much Sugar

Most of us are saturated in sugars and that’s not just a problem for diabetes. Excess sugar is a trigger for everything from joint pain to acid reflux, UTI and even dandruff!!

Sugar can also trigger headaches.

One of the easiest ways to slash sugar is the half as much – half as often rule. It instantly cuts our sugar intake by 75% and then in 2 weeks we ratchet it down again.

Overdoing Tomatoes

Tomatoes and other nightshades can all trigger headaches.

The problem can be saturation rather than a food sensitivity – think just how many meals you eat based on tomatoes!! – so you may relieve the headaches by cutting back rather than avoiding them totally.

Nightshade sensitivity headaches can also be tied to raised histamine levels triggered by gastritis.

Overdoing Garlic & Onions

Onions, garlic and other types of allium can also trigger headaches.

Again the problem is often saturation rather than sensitivity and can be tied to gastritis triggered histamine levels and acid reflux. Avoiding alliums whilst we tackle these digestive issues can reduce sensitivity and headaches.

And there you go, a whole load of surprising headache causes and triggers that we can tackle with simple lifestyle changes to prevent recurring pain. I do hope they help.

Headache Relief Teas

For pain relief whilst you get to the bottom of your headache triggers try these DIY headache relief teas for different headache types including :

• Tension
• Persistent Stress
• Sinus
• Cluster
• Bedtime.

And for more simple natural remedies read these posts :

• Secrets Of Better Sleep
• Benefits Of Walking Daily
• 8 Ways To Ease Inflammation
• Restoring Gut Health
• Natural Cold Remedies

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