Many people make the mistake of turning to over-the-counter medications at the first sign of a headache. There are many different things that can cause you to develop a headache. It is best to take the time to listen to your body and try to figure out what may be causing the headache, rather than medicating the issue right away. The following guide will help you learn the most common causes of headaches so that you can try to treat them properly.

Dehydration

When you do not drink enough water, it can cause your body to become dehydrated, because it is not getting the hydration it needs. Coffee, sodas, and juices have quickly overtaken water consumption, and many of these beverage choices can actually cause your body to become dehydrated because they contain sodium. Try drinking a few glasses of water the next time you get a headache to see if dehydration is causing the issue.

Hunger

If you go too long without eating, you can start to feel lightheaded and weak. Your body needs to be fueled properly in order to work as efficiently as possible. If you have not eaten anything in a few hours, try eating a granola bar or a piece of fruit to see if you can give your body the fuel it needs. You do need to eat a lot to keep headaches at bay. Eating healthy foods every few hours should do the trick.

Stress

A common cause of headaches is stress. Stress can be caused by just about anything in your life. When you start to feel a stress headache coming on, step away from whatever situation you are in and take some deep breaths. This will help to calm you. Once you have your breathing under control, place the pointer finger and thumb of your dominant hand on the the fleshy meat between your thumb and pointer finger of your non-dominant hand and squeeze. Rub the meaty portion in circular motions for a minute or two. This should cause your headache to lessen right away if you have a stress headache.

If you have headaches frequently, there is a chance that something serious is going on with your health. See a doctor right away so that the necessary tests can be run to determine what is causing your headaches. Many advancements have been made to allow doctors like those at the Davidson Chiropractic Clinic to pinpoint the cause of headaches and treat them properly so that you can live a more fulfilling life as soon as possible.

Share