I’m sure that most of you have had at least one bad headache in our lives, the kind that stopped you from whatever you were doing just to lay down in bed for a while. But some of us experience it more often than others, and that was the case of one of my neighbors, Benny.
We were talking on a Sunday afternoon, when he simply couldn’t follow me anymore and asked me to help him lie on the couch. He remained there for half an hour during which he drank two glasses of water. Then, he asked me for a cold cloth to place on his head and told me that he’s used to it, but nonetheless it made his hackles ride every time.
After a while, when he could focus again, we started talking about what he did and ate during the last days, and figured it out. He had been to a new restaurant that had amazingly tasting food and wine.
And it’s no surprise, because many foods that are cooked in restaurants nowadays contain monosodium glutamate, which is a flavor enhancer that renders the meals delicious. What it also does is that it alters your brain’s chemistry and functionality, being one of the most common causes of headaches. Other reasons for this ailment are alcohol, particular smells or fragrances, insufficient hydration, stress or meat (in this case the nitrites and nitrates that are meant to preserve it are responsible for your migraine).
How to prevent and deal with them
Avoid eating processed foods or meals that you or your close persons have cooked by yourselves.
Drink more water – the thin blood vessels that surround your brain lose their elasticity and narrow when you’re not hydrated enough. The blood is then forced through, increasing its pressure, which is resent as a headache or migraine. This is the first thing to do if the pain has already crept in.
Rest in a quiet place – avoid noise as much as possible, and try to relax. Slowly, but surely, the pain will fade away if there aren’t any other disturbing factors around.
When to seek for specialized help
If the pain is persistent and you need to take medication three times a week or even more often, please check with your healthcare provider to make sure it is not a chronic issue or a symptom of a more severe disease.
If things turn out well, and it’s an isolated problem, work on your stress levels. Keep a diary and monitor what you were doing right before the pain started, what you had eaten or drunk the day before, and what were the things that helped you recover. This journal will help you distinguish patterns and possible causes upon which you can act.
Care for your health!