"It's a very difficult thing to study because it's hard to disguise from people what they are eating, and their expectations and prior beliefs can play a big role in whether they actually get headaches," Dr. It concluded we don't have enough randomized controlled trial data to know the exact relationship between diet and migraines but suggested patients pay attention to what foods may trigger headaches or migraine for them. Loder said.Ī 2020 review of 43 studies published in Headache assessed diet-related triggers of migraine. People who get migraines are often told to avoid certain foods, like aged cheese or cured meats made with preservatives, but there's not a lot of hard evidence behind these claims, Dr. Loder recommended taking caution with hot yoga classes if high temperatures are a known trigger for you. A small study published in June 2019 in the American Journal of Pharmaceutical Education found student participants who completed a six-week yoga and meditation program before finals experienced less stress and anxiety. If you suspect stress is either causing or worsening your headaches, yoga may be a nice option for you. But during the times you're headache-free, regular exercise is a good way to help you stay that way.Ī February 2021 review published in Current Pain and Headache Reports concluded that aerobic exercise-like biking, cross-training, and walking briskly-could help in migraine prevention treatment. This is a type of exertion headache, according to the National Headache Foundation. If you're physically active or live in a warm, humid environment, you'll need to increase your water intake to stay hydrated and stave off headaches.Ī vigorous workout while you're in the throes of a bad headache may not be a good idea, and in fact, an increased pulse may make the pressure or the pounding worse, Dr. Even moderate coffee consumption contributes to your daily fluid intake a study published in January 2014 in PLoS One challenged the long-standing theory that moderate caffeine consumption contributed to dehydration. You can reach your water requirement from sources other than plain water-like low-calorie liquids (tea and skim or low-fat milk, for example) as well as fruits and vegetables. That's a good start, but your water intake should also take into account your age, weight, and daily activity.Īccording to the National Academy of Medicine, men should consume 15-16 cups of water a day (about 13 cups of that should come from beverages), while women should aim for 11-12 cups (about 9 cups of that should come from beverages). You've probably heard, "drink eight cups of water a day" to stay hydrated. Green suggested.Ī study published in July 2021 in Current Pain and Headache Reports found that dehydration alone may cause headaches and worsen headaches related to an underlying condition. To make sure you're drinking enough fluids, try to consume them throughout the day, rather than just guzzling them down at meal times or during periods of heavy physical activity, Dr. Headache is one of the first signs of dehydration, the process of losing body water. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) says acupuncture is generally considered safe if performed by an "experienced, well-trained practitioner." The technique uses small long needles inserted into the skin to stimulate trigger points throughout the body, according to StatPearls.Ī review published in April 2016 in the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews noted that acupuncture could be effective treatment for episodic or chronic tension-type headaches. You could also try acupuncture, though we need more research to confirm its headache-healing benefits. Loder said, adding that it may also be helpful to rub ice on this spot for a few minutes. "It's certainly a harmless thing to try, and at the very least it's a distraction from the pain," Dr. We need more data to understand if acupressure can relieve headache pain, but a study published in July 2017 in Medicine found that acupressure could at least relieve migraine nausea. Squeeze the indentation between the two digits with your opposite hand's thumb and index finger and massage in a circular motion for five minutes, then switch hands. Acupressure is designed to balance your flow of energy, or qi.įor headaches, you can try applying pressure to a point on the hand between the thumb and index finger. Acupressure is a form of traditional Chinese medicine massage where manual pressure is applied to points on the body called acupoints.
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