Foods That Trigger Headaches | LIVESTRONG.COM http://www.livestrong.com/article/277657-foods-that-trigger-h...

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LIVESTRONG.COM / Health / The Human Body / Muscles of the Human Body

Pressure Points for Headaches

by DR. ADRIENNE MCLEOD | Last Updated: Aug 14, 2017

According to the World Health Organization, approximately 47 percent of adults around the Advertisement
world suer from at least one headache in any given year. Tension-type headache is the most
common type of headache disorder. Tension headaches are commonly triggered by stress or PEOPLE ARE READING
muscle tension in the neck and head. Applying pressure to specific points around the neck
and head may help to relieve symptoms.
1 Magnesium & Tension Headaches

Base of the Skull

Reaching behind your head where the bottom of your skull meets your neck, you will find little
2 Foods That Trigger Headaches

indentations. Many dierent muscles are located there, which can contribute to headaches
when they're tight. Place your thumbs over the indentations and inhale deeply. As you 3 Can Diet Soda Cause Tension
Headaches?
breathe out, press your thumbs in and lean your head slightly back. This point can relieve
many headaches felt in the front and back of the head. 4 Stretches for Tension Headache
Relief

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Upper Trapezius Muscle

The trapezius is a large muscle at the top of your back. It attaches to your upper neck and
skull, down your mid-back and across to the shoulder. Reaching one arm across to the
opposite shoulder, use your fingertips to feel midway between your neck and shoulder and

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press down. In people with tight upper trapezius muscles, pain can be felt up the neck and
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around the ear.

Sternocleidomastoid Muscle
T
The sternocleidomastoid, or SCM, attaches from the back of the ear to the breast and collar
bones. To find the headache-generating point, place your right hand on the right side of your
neck. Turn your head to the le . The muscle that pops out is your SCM. Squeeze the muscle
gently, as you turn your head back to the front. Take a deep breath in. As you breathe out,
slowly and gently squeeze this muscle. People with tight SCMs can feel pain over their eye and
some even have jaw pain.

Temporalis Muscle

The temporalis muscle runs from the side of the skull down to the jaw. Each time you speak or
chew, this muscle is used. If the temporalis muscle is tight, pain can be felt over the temples,
around the eyes and in the jaw. To stretch this muscle, place your fingers on your skull above
the ears and behind your temples. Take a deep breath in. As you breathe out, slowly open
your mouth and push your fingers up toward the top of your skull.

Warnings

Headaches can be symptoms of a serious underlying condition. Seek immediate medical

attention if you suer from confusion, excessive sleepiness, double vision, weakness, fever or
a red eye or if your headache gets progressively worse. Seek emergency medical care if you
experience a sudden, severe headache that develops over a few seconds to minutes.

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by NICKI WOLF | Last Updated: Aug 14, 2017
1 The Magnesium Dosage for
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When Lying Down

5 Pressure Points for Headaches

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T
Nearly everyone will experience a headache at least once during their lifetime, according to
MedlinePlus. Tension headaches, the most common type of headache, result from muscles in
the shoulders, neck, jaw and scalp that are too tight from stress, anxiety or depression. Other
types of headaches include migraines, cluster headaches and headaches from sinus
congestion. Diet can also cause dierent types of headaches, and there are a variety of foods
that can trigger these conditions.

Aged Cheeses

Aged cheese like Parmesan and cheddar can trigger headaches because they contain an
amino acid called tyramine. Tyramine forms when protein breaks down in foods as they age.
When those with tyramine sensitivities eat foods containing it, conditions like heart
palpitations, nausea, vomiting and dangerously high blood pressure can occur. It causes
headaches, particularly the variety called migraines. In addition to Parmesan and cheddar,
those prone to headaches should avoid brie, blue cheese, Swiss cheese, Stilton, Roquefort,
mozzarella, Emmentaler, Gouda, provolone and American cheeses. Eating low-fat processed
cheeses, ricotta, cream cheese and farmer's cheese should not trigger headaches.

Chocolate

Chocolate can trigger headaches for those sensitive to caeine and tyramine. The Center for
Science in the Public Interest website lists 1.45 oz. of some dark chocolate as a high-caeine
food, containing 31mg. A 1.55 oz. bar of milk chocolate may contain approximately 9mg of
caeine. This stimulant should be limited to 300mg per day for normal adults, but those who
are sensitive to caeine may need to consume far less to avoid triggering headaches. The
National Headache Foundation website reveals that most people experience the eects of
caeine, including the caeine in chocolate, within 30 minutes of ingesting it. Withdrawal
from caeine may also trigger headaches, but chocolate and other foods that contain caeine
must be eaten daily, amounting to at least 15g over the course of a month to get to the point
where a person will experience withdrawal.

There is some evidence to indicate that chocolate may not cause headaches. Evidence
presented at the 2009 International Headache Congress suggests that diets enriched with
cocoa may prevent headaches.

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Nuts
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The National Headache Foundation indicates that all nuts, including peanuts, pumpkin seeds,
sesame seeds, walnuts and pecans can trigger headaches. Nuts contain high levels of
tyramine. Foods made from nuts, like peanut butter, may also be problematic for those
sensitive to this amino acid. The Migraine Headaches & Treatments website indicates that
nuts contain chemicals called vaso-active amines, which enlarge blood vessels and cause
them to press on nerves. This can trigger migraines and other headaches.

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