You could be triggering a migraine or headache and not even know it. Arm yourself with these tips.
If you’re a headache or migraine sufferer, you probably spend a lot of time and effort trying to prevent head pain. If you ignore your headache triggers, you could be unwittingly egging on a throbbing head. Here are five times you might be setting yourself up for a headache or migraine.
When You Aren’t Sleeping.
Poor sleep is a trigger for both headaches and migraines for some, and too much sleep is also a trigger. But what’s the right amount? Seven to nine hours a night is the recommended amount of sleep for adults. Try going to bed and waking up at the same time every day (even on weekends!) to reinforce a natural sleep-wake cycle. Learn more about what causes sleeplessness.
When You Miss a Meal.
A skipped meal can be a trigger for some migraine sufferers. So even if you slept through your alarm this morning or are slammed with a big deadline at work, make time to eat regular meals. But be careful what you eat: Some foods can be migraine triggers, too. See these four simple food swaps that may help reduce head pain.