It’s the most wonderful time of the year; the season to be jolly and full of festive cheer. But if you suffer from headaches or migraines, it’s also the time of the year when everything season-related seems to trigger episodes of pain.
Here our Fareham chiropractor reveals the most common Christmas headache triggers and how you can avoid them.
1: Overindulging in the Christmas Spirits!
It’s easy to overindulge at Christmastime, especially when it comes to alcohol.
While no one expects you to have a completely sober Christmas, drinking in moderation can help you to avoid that pounding morning-after headache.
Sipping water or another non alcoholic beverage between drinks can also help you to pace your drinking and stay hydrated.
2: Seasonal Scents
Not many people know this, but pine and cinnamon (common scents at Christmastime) are big headache triggers.
If you work in an office or a shop, ask your manager to avoid using these scents and make sure you don’t use them at home.
3: Festive Foods
If you are like many headache sufferers, certain foods may trigger your pain.
This Christmas, try avoiding red wine, beer, chocolate (if you can!), aged cheese, MSG and processed meats such as pepperoni, ham, and salami. Try eating more spinach, tofu, oat bran, barley, fish oil, olive oil, white beans, and sunflower and pumpkin seeds.
4: The Winter Lergy
Cold and flu viruses put more stress in the body, which can trigger headaches and migraines.
Keep your immune system healthy all year round ready to fight off the winter lergy when it strikes.
5: Being Rushed off Your Feet!
This season, as you embark on that annual last minute shopping trip (don’t you just love them!?), take a few minutes to stop at a department store perfume counter and dab on a lemony fragrance. Lemon scents can give you an instant mood boost, which certainly won’t do you any harm when it comes to battling your way through the jam-packed toy aisles or sitting in that endless traffic jam on the way home!
6: Not Having Fun!
As you write your Christmas cards or decorate the tree with the kids, take a deep breath and savour the moment. Remind yourself that you deserve a relaxed and happy Christmas and give yourself permission to temporarily forget about all those headache-inducing tasks on your to-do list.
7: Wrapping
If only Father Christmas really did wrap and deliver all those presents…wouldn’t Christmastime be so much easier? Okay, so the jolly fat man in the fluffy red coat may only be a commercial creation, but there are real-life people who do some of the work that Santa takes credit for. They may not have soft, white beards or a red nosed pet named Rudolph, but they will wrap your Christmas presents for a small fee. Seek out non-profit organisations that offer gift-wrapping services and you could avoid one seasonal headache while contributing to a worthy cause.
Here’s to a perfect, pain-free Christmas!
For friendly advice or to book an appointment, contact us today on 01329 280 283 or email frontdesk@homewoodchiropractic.co.uk
Our Experience Counts: 55 Years in Fareham
Serving the people of Fareham, and surrounding areas of Southampton, Portsmouth, Hampshire and the local areas of Whiteley, Hedge End, Locks Heath & Portchester
