Bee Strong: Weekend Headaches

Uhhhh!

Irene Ross is a NYC-based Health Coach, CHHC, and AADP.  For more information, visit her website at www.eating4achieving.com

Sound familiar?

You’ve had a busy, stressful, week and now you’re looking forward to the weekend, with two whole days of relaxation and recreation.  But you wake up on Saturday with a crushing headache—and that derails your plans.

What gives???

That’s a question researchers are trying to answer.  The general thought is that anything that produces a change in your body can create a headache—caffeine consumption, food, drink, environment. Some research even suggests that simply going from the workweek, where your body is in a state of stress, to the weekend, where your body is in a sudden state of rest, can release large amounts of neurotransmitter chemicals—which ultimately lead to those painful headaches.  And if you’re already prone to migraine or tension-type headaches, your body may even be more sensitive to any changes and, hence, increase the possibility of those weekend headaches.

Weekend headaches are pretty common, but if they increase in frequency or severity, it’s probably a good idea to check it out with your doctor.

Meanwhile, here are some simple steps you can follow to eliminate or reduce them:

Examine Your Caffeine Consumption:  Do you drink less or more coffee on the weekends?  I always recommend reducing your caffeine intake, and I certainly recommend keeping your consumption steady; for example, if you drink more during the week, but hardly any on the weekend, chances are you’ll send your body into a tailspin.

But the good news is you can still get your caffeine jolt, while still keeping your consumption low: Drink a half and half ( mix ½ regular with ½ decaf), or make substitutions such tea (green tea does have a little caffeine—but a LOT of antioxidants as well), or an herbal coffee like Teechino (found at Whole Foods and many health food stores).

Look at Your Sleeping Habits:  Yes, you can get too much of a good thing, and sleep is one of them.  Sleeping late is a sure way to trigger a headache, so try to rise the same time each day. Of course, too little sleep also triggers headaches, but the best way to avoid that is to, well, avoid that.

Pay Attention to Diet: Do you eat differently on weekends?  For instance, I know someone who often fasts during the week then overindulges on sugary, high-fat foods on the weekend.  Both fasting and overindulging on sugar and fat are ways to trigger attacks.

Eat Breakfast:  Always.  Never skip that, or any, meal.  A good, healthy breakfast will start your metabolism and help stabilize your blood sugar and mood levels.

Include Anti-inflammatory Foods: These foods reduce swelling and pain and, as much as possible, should be included: Vegetables, especially broccoli; fruits, especially blueberries; lean meats and seafood (wild Alaskan salmon); green tea; sweet potatoes; extra virgin olive oil.  Some spices, like turmeric and ginger, are powerful anti-inflammatory agents. Sugar is the arch enemy, and should be avoided as much as possible!

Check Out your Environment:  Look around—is your environment different on the weekends that during the week? Mold, dry heat and other allergens can all bring on headaches.

Marine Law Enforcement Foundation Bike Ride: This weekend

Posted in Events, Fitness, neighborbee by anthony
June 21, 2011 No comments yet

Jim & Melissa are dear friends of neighborbeeblog and The Marine Law Enforcement Foundation is a special organization – they provide scholarships for the children of Marines and Federal law enforcement personnel who are killed in the line of duty.

In a few days (June 24-26), a group of Marines and civilians will once again spend three days cycling from the Iwo Jima Memorial in Arlington National Cemetery to Ground Zero in NYC. My wife, Melissa, will be joining them on the last day of the ride.

This ride raises funds for the Marine Corps – Law Enforcement Foundation, which provides scholarships for the children of Marines and Federal law enforcement personnel who are killed in the line of duty. Since, 1995, the Foundation has provided over $50 million in scholarship funds to surviving dependents. Most of the Marines who are riding have friends who have been KIA and whose children are receiving education support from MC-LEF. To read more about MC-LEF, follow this link to the home page: http://www.mc-lef.org/.

If you have a potential interest in joining us for the 13-mile final leg of our 3rd Annual MC-LEF “Warrior Ride” (from the George Washington Bridge in NJ, to Ground Zero in NYC), please let me know, and I can get you details. This portion of the ride will be a great chance for some camaraderie with the riders, and with the NYPD and PAPD who will be providing a police escort. Also possibly providing additional support will be the Patriot Guard Riders.

I’m writing to request your support – any amount you are able to contribute will be helpful and please note that nearly 100% of every donation goes directly to the cause (MC-LEF only has one employee and absolutely minimal overhead costs). Very few charities can boast of this. Last year with your help we raised over $130K and we would like to exceed that this year.

If you are interested in donating here is the link: https://www.givedirect.org/give/givefrm.asp?Action=GC&CID=1586.

Please identify “Melissa Torykian and the 2011 Warrior Ride” in the comments box of the donation page so that we can keep track of what we each raise. Also, if you choose to donate, please check with your company’s charitable donation matching program and have your employer match your donation. Finally, please pass this note along to anyone you know who may be interested in donating.

Thank you for supporting this cause.

-Jim