What to Do for Daily Afternoon Headaches?
Lunch hour is long over and 5 o'clock is still far away. You know what's coming--your daily afternoon headache 2. Mild or severe, many people suffer from an aching cranium in the second half of the day. However, you can take steps to prevent that temple-thudding annoyance and enjoy your afternoons a great deal more.
If you are experiencing serious medical symptoms, seek emergency treatment immediately.
Medical Causes
The University of South Florida explains that there are two kinds of headaches--those caused by tightening muscles and those caused by arteries tightening and loosening 1. Muscular headaches can be caused by abnormalities in the spine from simple bad posture to something more serious. Headaches relating to the arteries, called vascular headaches, include the more painful migraine and cluster headaches. In these cases, the arterial changes put pressure on the nerves, causing pain.
- The University of South Florida explains that there are two kinds of headaches--those caused by tightening muscles and those caused by arteries tightening and loosening 1.
- Headaches relating to the arteries, called vascular headaches, include the more painful migraine and cluster headaches.
Lifestyle Causes
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Most often you have done something simple to cause these responses in the body. Too much time in the sun, dehydration, stress, hunger or a change in sleep patterns may be the culprit behind your aching head. Even something as simple as having more or less coffee than usual can trigger a headache 2.
Afternoon Tension
According to Merck, a respected medical manual, afternoon headaches are most often tension-type headaches. They usually begin the afternoon, feel like a tightening around your head, and last 30 minutes or more.
Prevention/Solution
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The National Pain Foundation suggests a small mid-morning and/or mid-afternoon snack to keep blood sugar stable 3. Staying hydrated and avoiding processed foods, especially those containing monosodium glutamate, MSG, may also help.
Relief/Treatment
Though many people choose to treat recurring afternoon headaches with over-the-counter pain medications, your doctor can actually prescribe something that may be more helpful. Antidepressants are sometimes given to keep the chemical levels in the brain level. Anti-convulsants and muscle relaxants can also be helpful for chronic headache sufferers, according to MayoClinic.com 24.
Related Articles
References
- University of South Florida: Headaches
- Merck: Headache
- MayoClinic.com: Tension Headache
- American Academy of Neurology. What is a neurologist?
- MedlinePlus. Migraine. Updated September 16, 2019.
- Cleveland Clinic. Tension-type headaches. Updated July 18, 2014.
- Cleveland Clinic. Cluster headaches. Updated July 22, 2014.
- Anxiety and Depression Association of America. Headaches.
- World Health Organization. Headache disorders.
- Schwedt TJ. Headache “red flags”: when to see your doctor. American Migraine Foundation. 2015.
- American Academy of Neurology. What is a neurologist?
- Michel O. Headache: Otorhinolaryngological aspects. HNO. 2016;64(1):61-71; quiz 72-73. doi:10.1007/s00106-015-0106-6
- American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology. Allergy headaches: overview. Updated April 17, 2018
- Johns Hopkins Medicine. Temporomandibular disorder (TMD)
- National Headache Foundation. Children’s headache disorders.
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Stroke signs and symptoms. Updated January 31, 2020.
Writer Bio
Laurel Tuohy was certified as a yoga teacher in 2009 after spending a year honing her craft in India. She has held editorial positions from music critic to lifestyle editor since 2000. She holds a degree in anthropology from Western Connecticut State University and her award-winning articles have appeared in publications around the globe from "The Mirror" to "The Times of India."