Headaches are extremely common and very normal, but that doesn't make them any less annoying.
Everyone suffers from headaches from time-to-time, but some of the causes are often avoidable.
It is important to note that headaches are not the same as migraines and if you are concerned you should contact your GP.
READ MORE: New rules announced to let people out of Covid isolation early
Headaches have also this week been listed as a commonly-reported symptom of the Omicron coronavirus variant, and anyone worried they may have covid should take a PCR test.
The NHS has a list of ten key triggers for headaches and, helpfully, ways you can fix these so you suffer less in the future.
Relaxing after stress
After working hard all week, you may find you wake up on a Saturday morning with a headache.
This is because as the tension of the week subsides, your levels of stress hormones drop, which causes a rapid release of neurotransmitters (the brain’s chemical messengers).
These send out impulses to blood vessels to constrict and then dilate, which causes a headache.
How you can fix it
More than eight hours' sleep can bring on a headache, so avoid sleeping in at weekend, even after a hard week.
Experts recommend you build in relaxation time during the week to allow yourself to de-stress throughout the week, rather than trying to fit it all in at the weekend.
Pent-up anger
Anger can build tension in your neck and scalp which can bring on a tension headache.
How you can fix it
If you feel yourself getting angry breathe slowly and calmly to release the tension building up in your body.
Poor posture
Yes, that's right, sitting poorly can give you a headache.
That is because of tension building in your back, neck and shoulders. Typically, the pain throbs in the base of the skull and sometimes flashes into the face, especially the forehead.
How you can fix it
You should always avoid sitting or standing in the same position for too long, this is good general advice too.
You should try to move around every 20-40 minutes to avoid cramps and, in this case, headaches.
The NHS also advises that you should consider using a special headset if you spend a lot of time on the phone, as holding a handset between your head and shoulder can strain muscles and cause headaches.
Perfume
Or anything else with a strong smell can bring on a headache. This can be cleaning products, air fresheners, shampoos, anything with an intense odour.
How you can fix it
Use fragrance-free air fresheners and household cleaners, and keep your doors and windows open as much as possible at home. If a colleague’s perfume is bothering you, put a fan on your desk at work.
Bad weather
That's right, it is not just an old wives tale. Pressure changes that cause weather changes are thought to trigger chemical and electrical changes in the brain. This irritates nerves, leading to a headache.
How you can fix it
Although you can not change the weather - wouldn't that be nice - the NHS recommends keeping up-to-date with the forecast and take a preventative painkiller a day or two in advance.
Grinding teeth
Grinding your teeth at night (the medical name is bruxism) makes your jaw muscle contract, causing a dull headache.
How you can fix it
Your dentist can fit you with a mouth guard to protect your teeth while you sleep. They cost around £50.
Bright lights
Bright lights and glare, especially if flickering, can induce migraines. This is because bright and flickering lights boost the levels of certain chemicals in the brain, which then activate the migraine centre.
How you can fix it
Sunglasses are great at reducing light intensity, and you can wear them inside and outside. Polarised lenses can also help to reduce glare.
At work, adjust your computer monitor or attach a glare screen.
You may be able to turn off certain lights or move them. If you can't, change where you sit in the office. Fluorescent lighting tends to flicker, so if you’re able to, substitute it with some other form of lighting.
Food triggers
Turkey, cheese and dark chocolate are just some foods that can bring on headaches.
Other culprits include aged cheeses like Stilton and brie, diet fizzy drinks, and processed meats and fish.
How you can fix it
Keep a migraine trigger diary and once you suspect a certain food may be the cause of your headaches, eliminate it from your diet for a couple of months to see if you get fewer headaches.
If you're concerned about avoiding any food-related trigger factor, see your GP or practice nurse or ask to be referred to a dietician for specialist advice.
Remember to eat regularly, because skipping meals can bring on a headache.
Sex headaches
It's a standing joke that headaches are used as an excuse to avoid sex, but for many men and women coital headaches that come on at the height of passion are a real and distressing problem.
Doctors think sex headaches are due to pressure building up in the head and neck muscles. The headaches can happen during foreplay or just before orgasm, and can last for a few minutes or up to an hour.
How you can fix it
They’re inconvenient, but these headaches are usually harmless and don't mean you have to avoid sex. Take a painkiller a few hours beforehand to block the headache.
Ice cream
Do you get a sharp, stabbing pain in your forehead when you bite into an ice cream cone?
Then you’re susceptible to ice cream headaches, caused by cold material moving across the roof of your mouth and the back of your throat. Ice lollies and slushy frozen drinks have the same effect.
How you can fix it
The good news is that ice cream headaches don’t need treatment. In fact, they’re over in a flash, rarely lasting more than a minute or two.
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