True or false? A closer look at headache myths
Drinking beer after wine will leave you with a throbbing head and music helps to relieve migraines ... we took a closer look at some common myths associated with headaches and put them to the test!
Myth 1: Mixing alcoholic drinks gives you a hangover headache
False. Lots of people swear by sticking to one type of alcohol and not drinking wine after beer or vice versa. Scientists at the German University of Witten/Herdecke examined whether the order in which alcohol is drunk can cause or prevent a hangover. The result is sobering: If you drink too much you risk getting a hangover, the order in which you drink beer and wine is completely irrelevant.
Myth 2: Smartphones cause headaches.
True. Studies have confirmed that you risk getting a headache if you are always glued to your mobile. Is this due to the blue light or the electromagnetic radiation? Neither according to the experts. The problem is actually down to the one-sided tension caused from continuously tiling your head forwards. This can trigger muscular tension in the neck and shoulder region that can, in turn, cause tension headaches. The Deutsche Gesellschaft für Orthopädie und Unfallchirurgie (DGOU) [German Society for Orthopaedics and Trauma] therefore recommends taking regular breaks from your mobile phone and doing exercises aimed at relaxing your neck and shoulders.
What happens in your head when you suffer a headache?
Contrary to popular belief, headaches don't start off in the brain. Since our brains have no pain receptors, they are unable to feel pain. The pain sensation felt in the head results from the inflamed blood vessels in the cerebral membrane. What causes this inflammation depends on the type of headache.
Myth 3: Drinking water can help.
True, but just one glass is not enough. Researchers at the University of Maastricht have concluded that seven glasses of water a day can relieve headaches and migraines. They examined more than 100 people who frequently suffered from headaches. They were all given written information on how to improve their sleep and reduce stress. Half of the participants were requested in writing to drink 1.5 l more water than they would normally do each day. After three months, the participants were surveyed on their experiences. The headaches, however not the number of headache days, had reduced significantly in the group of water drinkers compared to the group which was not requested to drink water.
Myth 4: Avoid taking painkillers.
False. Lots of people try to cope with their headaches for as long as possible without taking pain relief. This not only causes them to suffer for hours on end but can also put their health at risk. After all, if pain is experienced for an extended period, a pain memory can form and the pain remains even without a trigger. Even if you only experience occasional headaches, it still makes good sense to take over-the-counter pain relief in good time. However, you should not take painkillers for more than four consecutive days and for more than ten days a month without consulting a doctor. You should seek medical advice if you experience regular and frequent headaches.
Myth 5: Music and beat help against headaches.
Unproven. An ever-growing number of streaming services are now offering anti-migraine playlists featuring recordings of water and sound bowls designed to help you relax. With these recordings you hear two tones, one in each ear that are slightly different in frequency, in order to stimulate brainwaves. These are known as 'binaural' beats, i.e., beats for both ears. It cannot yet be said with certainty whether binaural beats actually work as there is a lack of scientific evidence.
Myth 6: Coffee reduces headaches.
Correct. Yes, it's true! Coffee can help with mild headaches. This is because caffeine prevents the body from releasing prostaglandins, hormone-like substances which are responsible for causing pain. Good to know: Coffee drinkers who suffer from migraines should make sure their coffee consumption remains regular. If their usual caffeine levels drop, e.g., at the weekend, this can trigger a migraine.
Myth 7: Chocolate triggers headaches.
False. Prior to suffering from a migraine, some people get a craving for certain foodstuffs such as chocolate, cheese and peanuts. However, these foodstuffs are not regarded as triggers. Rather, the craving is already a migraine symptom. For some experts, this craving for chocolate and alike is the brain demanding energy in order to prepare for the pending attack.
Myth 8: A stormy headache? It's the weather!
Not sufficiently proven. Many people believe they are sensitive to changes in the weather. Their heads start to pound when the weather switches from hot to cold and from sunny to stormy. But can external influences such as the weather really trigger headaches? Studies to date have been unable to confirm a causal link. Medical experts believe that migraines in particular are caused by a number of different factors and cannot be reduced to a single trigger. Since, as a rule, those affected by migraines are far more sensitive to the weather than other factors, such as stress and hormonal fluctuations, it can be assumed that the influence of the weather is overestimated.
