Spring Break
Stressing out is not worth the headache
Guest Column
Issue date: 10/4/07
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As college students, we are plagued by headaches, not on a daily basis, but by the minute. We cause ourselves to worry about what has to be done, what could have been done, the concepts we have yet to understand and what things will turn out like in the future. Life has become a non-stop mix of school, homework, papers, projects, research, finals and all-nighters.
This combination of endless "to-do" lists and ultimately unsolvable problems of life cause our heads to teeter on the edge of madness. And what may seem like a tiny headache problem is actually a nationwide epidemic. According to Stephen Silberstein, director of the Jefferson Headache Center, more than three million Americans suffer from self-inflicted headaches at any given time.
There are countless reasons why an individual contracts a headache, whether it be a migraine or just a tension headache. Medically headaches are caused by the contraction, or tensing, of neck and scalp muscles. Such muscle contractions can be caused by stress, depression, head injury and anxiety. Headaches can also be caused by eye strain, such as when you use of a computer or a microscope for a prolonged period of time. Other causes include fatigue, alcohol use, excessive smoking, excessive caffeine use, sinus infection, nasal congestion, overexertion colds and influenza - just your basic list of affects from the average college student lifestyle.
Interestingly enough certain foods can cause headaches and migraines as well. These foods are rich in a chemical called amines affect blood vessels. Such foods include peanuts, pork, cheese, alcohol, citrus fruits and chocolate.
Artificial sweeteners can also cause headaches. A study published in the journal Neurology involved researchers testing people who complained of frequent headaches by giving them artificial sweeteners on some days and a placebo on others. The study revealed that the participants suffered from headaches mostly on days when they had consumed artificial sweeteners.
This combination of endless "to-do" lists and ultimately unsolvable problems of life cause our heads to teeter on the edge of madness. And what may seem like a tiny headache problem is actually a nationwide epidemic. According to Stephen Silberstein, director of the Jefferson Headache Center, more than three million Americans suffer from self-inflicted headaches at any given time.
There are countless reasons why an individual contracts a headache, whether it be a migraine or just a tension headache. Medically headaches are caused by the contraction, or tensing, of neck and scalp muscles. Such muscle contractions can be caused by stress, depression, head injury and anxiety. Headaches can also be caused by eye strain, such as when you use of a computer or a microscope for a prolonged period of time. Other causes include fatigue, alcohol use, excessive smoking, excessive caffeine use, sinus infection, nasal congestion, overexertion colds and influenza - just your basic list of affects from the average college student lifestyle.
Interestingly enough certain foods can cause headaches and migraines as well. These foods are rich in a chemical called amines affect blood vessels. Such foods include peanuts, pork, cheese, alcohol, citrus fruits and chocolate.
Artificial sweeteners can also cause headaches. A study published in the journal Neurology involved researchers testing people who complained of frequent headaches by giving them artificial sweeteners on some days and a placebo on others. The study revealed that the participants suffered from headaches mostly on days when they had consumed artificial sweeteners.
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