7 Surprise Reasons Your Head Hurts

From staying in bed to eating a ham sarnie, there are some unusual causes of head pain. Here are the remedies to tackle them...

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1 YOUR PACKED LUNCH

Certain foods contain chemicals that can set off a headache. Culprits include processed meats, aged cheeses such as Stilton and Brie, fish, diet fizzy drinks and dark chocolate. Ham is a common trigger because it contains tyramine as well as preservatives (nitrates or nitrites), which both appears to increase blood flow to the brain and trigger headaches. Tyramine is found in foods that have been preserved, pickled, smoked, marinated or fermented. 

FIX IT Keep a ‘trigger’ diary and eliminate suspect foods from your diet to see if you get fewer headaches as a result. If you’re concerned, see your GP or ask to be referred to a dietitian for specialist advice.

2 GETTING ANGRY

Anger can make the muscles in the back of your head and neck tense up, which can lead to a tension headache. You also tend to take shorter breaths when you’re anxious, and the less oxygen you take in, the more blood vessels constrict, causing head pain. 

FIX IT 

When you start to feel angry, breathe in slowly and deeply through your nose and out through your mouth to relax your head and shoulder muscles. Learn coping strategies, such as letting go of things that are beyond your control.

3 YOUR 5:2 DIET