Headaches: Finding and Avoiding Triggers
Introduction
This topic is about finding and avoiding triggers for tension headaches. For information on finding and avoiding triggers for migraine headaches, see 
Migraines: Finding and Avoiding Triggers.
You can have fewer
headaches—and less pain when you do get them—by finding out what things, or
triggers, bring on your headaches. You can try to avoid triggers to
prevent tension headaches. To prevent headaches:
- Use a
headache diary(What is a PDF document?) to find your triggers.
- Manage
stress.
- Seek treatment if you have depression or
anxiety. They can lead to
headaches.
- Sleep, exercise, and eat on a
regular schedule.
- Practice good posture to reduce neck
strain.
- Reduce eyestrain from computers at work and at
home.
- Don't clench your jaw.
Clenching can cause muscle tension in your face.
Triggers
of
tension headaches include:
- Stress.
- Extreme tiredness (fatigue).
- Hunger.
- Anger.
- Poor
posture.
- Pushing yourself too hard when you exercise or do other
activity.
- Hormone changes.
- Depression.
- Anxiety.
You may have one or more triggers from the above list. Or you may have other triggers.
Test Your Knowledge
Skipping meals, leaning over your computer for hours
at a time, and stressful life events can all trigger tension
headaches.
-
True
This answer is correct.
A trigger is anything that can lead to a
headache and symptoms of tense muscles and pain in your head, neck, forehead,
and temples. Triggers vary from person to person and from headache to headache
in the same person.
-
False
This answer is incorrect.
A trigger is anything that can lead to a
headache and symptoms of tense muscles and pain in your head, neck, forehead,
and temples. Triggers vary from person to person and from headache to headache
in the same person.
-
Continue to Why?
Finding out what triggers your headaches can
help you avoid those things. That will help you have fewer headaches and have less
pain when you do get a headache.
Test Your Knowledge
Avoiding headache triggers can help you
prevent tension headaches.
-
True
This answer is correct.
Finding your triggers helps you avoid the
trigger and reduce the number of headaches you
have.
-
False
This answer is incorrect.
Finding your triggers helps you avoid the
trigger and reduce the number of headaches you
have.
-
Continue to How?
Finding your headache triggers
Use a headache diary(What is a PDF document?) to find your headache
triggers. Keeping track of what you
do every day—the foods you eat, the stress you feel, the
weather, and other things—can help you find a
pattern to your headaches. This helps you know what to avoid to
prevent headaches.
Avoiding your headache triggers
To avoid your triggers, try to:
-
Get regular exercise. If you do
have a headache while you exercise,
write down the activity you were doing. Avoid very hard exercise.
This can trigger a tension headache.
-
Keep regular sleep patterns. Sleeping too much or too little
can trigger headaches. If you do get a headache when your
sleep pattern has changed, this may be a trigger that you
can control.
-
Eat
healthy food on a regular schedule. This may help prevent
headaches. Going a long time without eating can trigger a
headache.
-
Get treatment if you have
depression and anxiety. These health problems can
cause headaches.
Test Your Knowledge
Keeping a daily headache diary is not helpful for
tension headaches.
-
True
This answer is incorrect.
Keeping a headache diary can help you
find triggers such as stress, lack of sleep,
and hormone changes. Finding and avoiding triggers can
reduce how many headaches you get and how bad they
are.
-
False
This answer is correct.
Keeping a headache diary can help you
find triggers such as stress, lack of sleep,
and hormone changes. Finding and avoiding triggers can
reduce how many headaches you get and how bad they
are.
-
Continue to Where?
Now that you have read this
information, you are ready to start finding and avoiding
tension headache triggers.
Talk with your doctor
If you have questions about
this information, print it out and take it with you when
you visit your doctor. You may want to use a highlighter to mark areas or make
notes in the margins of pages where you have questions.
Take your
headache diary with you when you visit your doctor. Be sure to let your doctor
know if you have changes in your symptoms.
Talk with your doctor about what might be triggering your headaches.
Discuss ways that you can avoid those triggers.
Return to topic:
Credits
|
By
|
Healthwise Staff |
|
Primary Medical Reviewer
|
Anne C. Poinier, MD - Internal Medicine |
|
Specialist Medical Reviewer
|
Colin Chalk, MD, CM, FRCPC - Neurology |
|
Last Revised
|
July 7, 2011 |
Last Revised:
July 7, 2011