Surprising Headache Triggers You Didn’t Know About: Foods, Habits, and Everyday Items That Could Be Making You Suffer

Currently, research shows that one in four American people aged 15 and over experience headaches at least once a week. Around 60% of people experience headaches at least once a month, and around one in three people are aware that they suffer from headaches, so headaches are now said to be a national disease. There are actually over 300 types of headache, but they can be broadly divided into two types: 'secondary headaches' such as subarachnoid haemorrhage, where the cause of the headache can be identified, and 'primary headaches' such as migraine, tension-type headache and cluster headache, where the cause of the headache cannot be identified. The majority of headaches are of the latter type. It is also known that women are far more likely to suffer from headaches than men.

Mechanism of Headache

It is caused by irritation of the blood vessels and nerves in the head by inflammatory substances, or by sudden changes in blood flow caused by the stretching and contracting of the muscles in the head and neck. Common causes include stiff necks and shoulders, stress, hormonal imbalance, lack of sleep, autonomic nervous system imbalance, and stimulation from sound and light, but it is important to be aware that there are also unexpected triggers that are not well-known to some people.

Factors that trigger headaches

Foods Containing Nitrites

Processed meats (sausages, ham, salami, etc.), roe products (cod roe, salmon roe, etc.)

Nitrites, which are widely used as colorants and preservatives in meat, can cause headaches due to their vasodilating effect and are sometimes referred to as “hot dog headaches.”

Foods Containing Histamine

Cheese (e.g. Parmesan), alcohol, chocolate, fermented foods (miso, soy sauce, yogurt, etc.), beef, pork, lean fish (tuna, bonito, mackerel, sardines, etc.), pineapple, avocado, banana, kiwi, tomato, eggplant, yam, mushrooms, peanuts, etc.

Foods Containing Tyramine

Aged cheese (such as cheddar and blue cheese), sausages, beer, wine, roe

Both histamine and tyramine have a vasoconstrictive effect, so headaches may occur when they dilate. In particular, red wine and cheese are foods that should be avoided as they contain both histamine and tyramine, and are therefore likely to induce headaches. Wine and cheese are foods that many people like to eat, so it seems that it is necessary to determine the appropriate amount.

MSG (monosodium glutamate)

MSG is a chemical seasoning that has become a problem due to the symptoms known as “Chinese restaurant syndrome”, and it is still used in a variety of processed foods today.

Glutamate has the effect of constricting blood vessels, and it has been reported that it can cause headaches in some people.

Caffeine Withdrawal

This is a headache that occurs when a person who has been consuming a large amount of caffeine suddenly stops consuming caffeine. It is thought that the constant constriction of the blood vessels in the brain caused by daily caffeine intake suddenly disappears, the blood vessels relax, and the blood flow suddenly increases, causing a headache.

Dehydration

When blood flow to the brain decreases due to a lack of water, the autonomic nervous system works to increase blood flow to the brain, causing blood vessels to dilate. Also, when the body lacks water due to excessive sweating, the body temperature is less likely to drop, causing the head to become hot and headaches to occur more easily.

Young children, the elderly and diabetics are at a higher risk of dehydration, so extra care is needed.

Cold Food

Ice cream, shaved ice, etc.

When cold food stimulates the trigeminal nerve in the throat, the brain mistakes the coldness for pain, causing a headache. Also, when the mouth becomes cold from cold food, the blood vessels in the head expand due to a temporary increase in blood flow in order to raise the body temperature.

As you can see, some of the causes are things that symbolize modern life, such as food additives, and it seems likely that new causes of headaches will be discovered in the future.

Words like “pounding”, “throbbing” and “tight” are enough to convey the pain of a headache. Although it is extremely painful for the person experiencing it, on the other hand, there is the problem that it is difficult for those around them to understand, so in order to prevent headaches from becoming a new “cause of headaches” for those who suffer from them, it is important to first find out what triggers your headaches.

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* These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.