Some of these tips might enable you to manage headache occurrences better.

EARLY WARNING SIGNS

Just prior to a headache there are early warning signs of its onset. If you can recognize early warning signs in yourself and immediately take your medication, you may reduce headache intensity and shorten its duration. Some early warning signs are listed below.

• Visual disturbances: 
  double vision, difficulty in focusing, temporary partial blindness, dazzling display of colored lights, spots or lines

• Dizziness

• Hallucinations

• Nausea

• Vomiting

• Numbness

• Tingling

• Sensitivity to noise or light

• Depression

• Irritability and tension

• Alterations in mood and outlook

• Feeling of exaggerated well-being

• Uncommon energy and vigor

• Unusual hunger: desire for snacks, etc.

• Yawning

• Trembling

• Feeling of weakness

• Excitability

• Talkativeness

• Difficulties in speaking

• Pains in neck or shoulders

• Blotchy patches on skin or rashes

• Unusual pallor, especially in children

• Noticeable increase in weight

• Swelling of fingers, waist, or breasts

• Increase in frequency and volume of urination

TRIGGER FACTORS

Life styles are often associated with the cause of the headache. These triggering factors can cause headache and if recognized and avoided might stop the impending headache. The list below gives some headache triggering factors.

• Anxiety

• Worry

• Emotion

• Depression

• Shock

• Alcohol

• Excitement

• Over-exertion

• Physical or mental fatigue

• Bending or stooping, as in gardening

• Lifting heavy weights or straining of any sort

• Change of routine, e.g. holidays, shift-work, change of job

• Late rising, especially weekends or on vacation

• Travel

• Prolonged focusing on TV or movie screen

• Bright sunlight, bright artificial light or glare of any kind, fluorescent light

• Very hot baths

• Noise-particularly loud and high pitched sounds

• Intense odors or penetrating smells

• Use of sleeping tablets

• Prolonged lack of food-fasting or dieting

• Irregular meals

• Menstruation and the pre-menstrual period

• Menopause

• High blood pressure

• Continued use of oral contraceptives

• Toothache and other local pains in head or neck

• Change of climate

• Change in weather

• High winds

SUSPECT FOODS

Foods are also implicated in the cause of headache. From previous experience with headaches, you may already suspect which foods are triggers for you. Here is a list of common foods that may provoke headaches.

Food TypeExamplesaged cheeseCheddar, brick, Mozzarella, Gruyere, Stilton, Brie, Camembert, Boursaultalcoholbeer, wine (especially red), liquorcaffeinecoffee, tea, cola, certain over-the-counter analgesics and other medicationschocolatesweets, foods, drinksconcentrated sugarsweets, cookies, cakedairy productsmilk, ice cream, yogurt, cream, cheeses (aged)fermented pickled foodsherring, sour cream, yogurt, vinegar, marinated meats (cold cuts)fruitsbananas, plantain, avocado, figs, passion fruit, raisins, pineapple, oranges, and most citrusmeats with nitratesbologna, hot dogs, pepperoni, salami, pastrami, bacon, sausages, canned ham, corned beef, smoked fishMonosodium Glutamate (MSG)Chinese food, Accent, Lawry's Seasonal Salt, instant foods such as canned soup, TV dinner, processed meats, roasted nuts, potato chipsNutrasweet/saccharinsoft drinks, diet foodssulfitessalad bars, shrimp, soft drinks, certain winesvegetablesonions, pods of broad beans (lima, new), pea pods, nuts, peanutsyeast productsyeast extracts- fresh breads, raised coffee cakes, doughnuts