Reasons There Is No Such Thing As A Normal Headache

Headaches do not have to be a normal occurrence in your life. If you are experiencing headaches to the degree that you call them “normal,” something is wrong. I have devised a list of reasons why headaches are not normal to help you get insight on what could be causing the headache.

 

1. Dehydration

Being thirsty can make you feel a lot of things, especially since brain function decreases the thirstier you get. A telltale symptom of dehydration is the muted headache. The reason is due to how the brain will contract during periods of fluid loss. As the brain pulls away from the skull, the dehydration headache ensues. When in doubt about where your headache is coming from, go chug some water.

2. Subluxation

Spinal misalignment can cause headaches and migraines. There’s a neck muscle that is connected to membranes in the brain, meaning that if your neck is tense or out of alignment, it could be adding pressure to those membranes. Since the brain itself cannot feel pain, the tension on those membranes would be the site of the headache. See if visiting a chiropractor or getting a massage would help.

3. Caffeine

Too much caffeine or too little caffeine can cause headaches. Though the amount of caffeine that people tolerate differs from person to person, having too much or too little could end up with a splitting pain in your skull. Generally, you want to stick to 300-400 mg of caffeine, or 3-4 cups of coffee a day. However, if you suddenly spike that or have no caffeine for a day, you will wind up with an overload headache or a withdrawal headache.

If you’re trying to reduce your caffeine intake, gradually reduce. Don’t go cold turkey.

4. Blood Sugar

Low blood sugar, also known as hypoglycemia, has been accredited with migraines and headaches. The blood glucose level is the amount of sugar you have in your blood as energy. When your blood glucose levels are erratic, your body starts to react in the form of headaches, fatigue, sluggishness, and so on. Your diet might be to blame. Make sure you are eating plenty of foods that help you feel sated. For some, this might mean 6 smaller meals throughout the day. Others might do well on the ketogenic diet. See what works for you.

5. Digestion

Constipation isn’t normal, and when you have constipation, it means that toxins are backing up into your body. Headaches can be caused when you have an excess of waste matter collecting in your intestines. The process known as diffusion means that, when you are constipated, the waste flows from the colon to other regions of the body. Once you get regular and clean out your colon, the headaches may dissipate as well.

6. Sleep Habits

There are certain sleep habits that can affect your head. When your neck isn’t supported, pressure is placed on your nerves, blood vessels, and the vertebrae in the cervical spine. The pressure goes straight to your head, and your brain reacts by thinking there’s a problem. If you wake up with headaches, you should sleep on your side or back and buy a pillow that supports your neck. Avoid anything too fluffy, because that will put your neck at an unnatural angle.

There are indeed other reasons why you could have a headache, but these are the top contenders that doctors and medical professionals see most often. Many people do not realize that a headache is more than meets the eye. Now that you know, you should be able to figure out where your headache is coming from.