Ask Dr Sandra Cabot

Dear Dr Cabot,

For the past couple of months I have had a headache every day. Every morning I wake with a headache; sometimes it is mild and sometimes quite severe. I have been really tired lately and am starting to get depressed. I am a 49 year old male. Can you please help me?

Bill

Dear Bill,

Several conditions could cause you to have headaches. Firstly it is important for you to see your doctor and have a general medical check up; you should have a blood test for your blood sugar level and blood fats, including cholesterol and triglycerides. Also ask your doctor to check your blood pressure; elevated blood pressure is a common cause of headaches.

Do you know if you snore? Snoring is strongly associated with sleep apnoea and that can cause morning headaches. Sleep apnoea is a huge risk factor for heart attacks and strokes; if you are overweight you should discuss this possibility with your doctor. Sleep apnoea can be treated with weight loss or the use of a Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) machine.

If none of those apply to you, you could be suffering from chronic tension headaches. These should respond to stress reduction techniques, massage therapy, making sure you get enough sleep, regular exercise, etcetera. Here are some more tips for getting rid of headaches:

• Make sure you drink approximately 8 to 10 glasses of water each day. Waking with a headache is often a sign of dehydration.
• Reduce your intake of caffeine, as you could be waking with caffeine withdrawal. If you must drink coffee, do so in the morning.
• Reduce your intake of alcohol. It can dehydrate you and it overworks your liver. Headaches are a common sign of liver dysfunction.
• Increase your intake of fresh fruit and vegetables. Make sure you eat plenty of good quality protein, such as fish, eggs and poultry, legumes, nuts and seeds. The better quality your diet, the better your overall health should be.
• The mineral magnesium is excellent for headaches, stress and high blood pressure. It is commonly known as “the Great Relaxer”. Magnesium is predominantly found in vegetables, nuts and seeds. To get enough magnesium to relieve your headaches you will need to take a supplement. Magnesium is available in tablet or powder form.