Our Doc Will See You Now
Health|November 2017

Sex headaches, buzzing ears, bad breath—don’t fret! Smart solutions straight ahead.

Our Doc Will See You Now
Q Can weighted blankets really help me sleep better?

You might be seeing these blankets popping up in Facebook ads and retail stores. The idea is that the pressure of these heavy blankets has the same calming effect as a hug (or think of a swaddle for a baby). It’s called deep touch pressure, and it’s said to reduce our anxious, fight-or-flight response.

There have been reports that weighted blankets help some children with autism and folks suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder fall asleep more easily, but hard data to back this up is scant (most of the evidence out there is anecdotal). Still, unless you have sleep apnea, high blood pressure, or heart or lung issues, it’s safe to give a weighted blanket a shot.

Help—sex gives me a headache!

Sex headaches are real: They can feel like an achiness in the head and neck during sexual activity, or they may come on suddenly and severely right before or during orgasm. It’s not totally clear why sex can cause head pain, but in some cases it may have to do with your blood vessels dilating and your blood pressure increasing during intercourse. Or the headache may be connected to the muscle contractions in the head and neck that can happen before an orgasm. Are you prone to migraines? If so, you may be at a higher risk of sex headaches.

While most sex headaches last only a few minutes, some people might experience them for hours or a couple of days. Some people get only one in their life, but others have them sporadically over the course of about six months.

This story is from the November 2017 edition of Health.

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This story is from the November 2017 edition of Health.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.