Listen to Your Head – The Hidden Messages of a Headache

 We put some of the most common headaches under the grill

There are not many people around who cannot say they have never experienced a headache. In fact, according to The World Health Organisation (WHO), headaches are the most common disorders of the nervous system. Almost half the adult population have suffered from a headache in the past year. Ouch – that makes my head hurt!

Headaches do not discriminate. They can affect people from any age and any background. However, what many suffers don’t realise is an often a hidden message behind a headache. Tension, stress, eyestrain, allergies, medications, alcohol, illness, hormones, and some foods have all been linked to probable causes of headaches.

Bondi Beach Tea Co. have researched some of the most common headaches, their meanings and how you can set yourself up to fight against them.

When there are places to go and people to see, no one has time to put up with a headache.

Generalised headache

A generalised headache is one of the many signs of dehydration. Dehydration can be caused by a lack of fluid intake or an extreme loss of fluid commonly through vomiting, diarrhoea, sweat and urine. Dehydration can also be a result of alcohol consumption, sun exposure, rigorous exercise and physical activities, heat, and fever.

Allergies may also trigger a headache. Headaches from allergies are usually accompanied by a runny nose, sore eyes, and potential hay fever.

How to help treat it:

Drink plenty of water. Water intake can also come from sources like fresh fruits, and natural herbal teas like the tasty blends at Bondi Beach Tea Co. In cases of extreme exercise or diarrhoea, you could also use a rehydration solution to help bring your intake back up.

In the instance of allergies, treatment may also include anti-histamine medication and decongestants.

Migraine

For sufferers, migraines generally start anywhere from puberty and affect mostly those aged between 35 and 45 years. Migraines can severely affect your way of life and can last anywhere from 4 to 72 hours. According to Headache Australia, migraines are more common in women.

The pain can be classified by at least two of the below:

• pain on one side of the head
• moderate to severe pain
• throbbing
• can be made worse by movement

Moreover, with at least one of the below symptoms:

• nausea or vomiting
• sensitivity to light, noise or smell

The cause of a migraine is thought to be by the activation of a mechanism within the brain. This leads to a release of pain-producing substances around the nerves and blood vessels in the head.

How to help treat it:

While migraines are vastly individual, Headache Australia says that eating starchy foods particularly could help to ease a migraine. Others could feel better after quality sleep on a proper mattress or professional medication. However, for many migraines generally just need to burn themselves out, unfortunately.

Cluster headache

Cluster headaches can bring on pain more severe than a migraine, however they last generally for about an hour at a time. The eye region is usually the focus of the pain with tearing and redness of the eye. The nose will also run or become blocked, and the eyelid on the affected side of the face may droop.

Cluster headaches tend to repeat their attack daily and can last for up to three months before easing. They are more common in men (6:1 ratio against women) but only affect around one in one thousand adults from the age of 20 years.

How to help treat it:

Cluster headaches are best treated by a medical professional. Treatment could include oxygen inhalation, injections and medications.

Chinese restaurant syndrome (CRS) headache

We are not having you on here – yes, this is the name of an actual headache.

Symptoms of a CRS headache are a sensation of tightness in the face, burning on the trunk, neck and shoulders, and pressing pain on the chest. The headache manifests as a pressing or throbbing sensation over the temples and the feeling of wearing a band across the forehead. This headache will come on about 20 – 25 minutes after chowing down on a serving of Chinese food. It could last for up to an hour.

The MSG contained within some Chinese foods is generally the one to blame for these symptoms. Monosodium L-glutamate affects those people highly sensitive to the ingredient. About 3 grams of MSG can be found in 200ml of wonton soup.

How to help treat it:

Avoid any foods containing MSG. Be sure to ask which, if any, foods contain MSG before ordering and digging in.

Eyestrain headache

Headache from eyestrain will feel like pain or heaviness around the eyes. This is often felt by people working daily on computer screens, and while reading. The symptoms are brought on by uncorrected problems with vision.

How to help treat it:

Get yourself to the optometrist! An eye test is the best way to determine whether your headache is being caused by eyestrain. Appropriate use of visual aids will help to rid you of any pain associated with eyestrain.

Hunger headache

A dull generalised headache can come about by fasting, skipping meals, or being hungry. Low blood sugar levels could also cause a hunger-type headache.

How to help treat it:

A nutritious diet of regular healthy meals is the best way to prevent a hunger headache. Plenty of water, fresh fruits, vegetables, lean meats, seafoods and whole grains is the way to go. It is not only your stomach that suffers when you are hungry.

To help get you through the day check out our range of Bondi Beach Tea Co. herbal teas. Our teas are all natural and contain a range of herbs that have traditionally been used for a variety of medicinal purposes. We have a blend perfect for everyone.

See our full range available online here.

Moreover, for a relaxing bath and shower remedy that will help ease any tension – see our new Organic Matcha Mint Body Scrub.

Sources used for this article

* Headache Australia: headache types

* The Word Health Organisation: headache disorders

N.B. Bondi Beach Tea Co. are not medical professionals. This information is intended for general use only, and we recommend you seek professional medical advice for any symptoms of concern.