But what many people don’t know is that headaches and migraines are often triggered by outside factors — they don’t usually come out of the blue. If you suffer from unbearable headaches, try changing the following behaviors and see if they are relieved.
- Limit alcohol consumption. This has nothing to do with the dreaded hangover. Some people are much more sensitive to alcohol than others, particularly red wines that contain tannins and sulfites.
- Limit caffeine intake. Coffee, tea, energy drinks, and caffeine supplements have been known to trigger headaches. While some people find that small doses of caffeine often curb headaches and make them less frequent, others report that caffeine in excess causes more severe pain.
- Identify food triggers. Chocolate, cheese, and artificial sweeteners are some of the most common food triggers. If you consume a lot of foods containing these products, consider cutting back or eliminating them from your diet completely. If the problem ceases to persist, you may have found the source of your pain.
- Drink water. Dehydration can cause headaches in just about everyone. That’s partly why alcohol and coffee can be so harmful — they dehydrate the body. Be sure to drink an adequate amount of water to keep your body and mind balanced.
- Track your sleep. Lack of sleep can often lead to chronic headaches behind eyes and other places, and may even result in an endless cycle where one may not be able to sleep comfortably at all. Keep track of how much you are sleeping per night and at what times of the day. Your sleep patterns may need to be altered in order to optimize your shut-eye.
If these problems persists after changing your behaviors, your pain could have another source. Chronic headaches behind eyes, as well as other aches and pains, can sometimes be caused by unresolved back pain. Seeing a chiropractor to treat this pain may also help alleviate headaches.
If you find yourself having these severe headaches visit the Brain and Body Health Center for an evaluation.