Top 7 ways to stop Weekend Headache

Are those all-too-common weekend headaches holding you back, just when you’re ready to cut loose and enjoy yourself?  It’s time to fight back!

Weekend headaches destroying your relax time?

If you’re prone to tension-type headaches, or migraine attacks, it’s likely that your weekend headache is simply another attack.  But then again, it can be an attack that’s more powerful than normal – some people’s weekend headaches are more painful than the ones they "normally" get.  Or, some people may only get weekend headaches.

In order to fight them, a good strategy is to look for changes.  People with headache or migraine seem to be especially sensitive to changes – diet, schedule, environment – even changes within the body.

Some people believe that their weekend headaches are "stress let-down" headaches.  This could be explained by changes in the body after a busy week, when you’re finally relaxing.

But there could be triggers you can do something about…

  1. Caffeine?  Caffeine is often blamed for weekend headache.  Whether you’re taking in more or less caffeine on the weekend, either way, it could be triggering an attack.  If you aren’t about to cut out all caffeine, at least try to keep it steady, and low.  Same amount of caffeine, same time of day.
  2. Sleeping late?  Same time?  But – I sleep in!  Well, that could be the problem.  For many, sleeping late is a sure-fire way to a powerful migraine attack.  You might not like getting up at the same time every day, but it sure beats that headache.
  3. Not enough sleep?  Actually, any change in sleep schedule could mean a weekend headache.  However, some people find they can get away with staying up late sometimes, as long as they still get up at the same time.
  4. Eat breakfast.  A good, healthy, breakfast – at the same time!  Some people even find they get rid of symptoms by getting up and having breakfast, even if they go back to bed afterwards!
  5. Change of diet?  Are you eating differently on the weekend?  Or, worse – drinking differently?  Could the wine you enjoy on the weekend be triggering headaches?  Cut it out for a while and see.
  6. Environment check.  There are many things in the environment that could be triggering a weekend headache.  Ask yourself, how is my environment different on the weekend?  Is there anything that could be triggering a headache or migraine attack?
  7. Look at the BIG PICTURE.  Weekend headaches aren’t currently considered a disease of their own.  They’re a part of something bigger, whether you get headaches other times or not.  If you have a diagnosis (ie migraine), killing those weekend headaches is probably a part of your overall treatment.  If you haven’t been diagnosed – talk to your doctor about the headaches right away.  They should not be ignored.

There are other ways to stop weekend headaches, but I’ll turn it over to you now.  What have you found that helps?  Leave your comments!

Check here for more about the dreaded weekend headache.