“Rub my neck veins a little – they are as hard as wires!” This phrase was used by our grandmothers after heavy farm work, and the same phrase can be heard in modern offices today. A headache is like an annoying guest, one that many are familiar with, and it seems hopeless to get rid of it forever… But is that really the case?
According to the International Headache Society (IHS), nearly two billion people worldwide suffer from headaches. Hundreds of causes and types of headaches have been identified. The most common characters are migraine and tension headaches, which are often confused with each other.
Do you recognize it?
Migraine – it occurs in about 15% of women and 8% of men. The pain is pulsating, physical exertion makes it stronger, and it is often accompanied by nausea, vomiting, light and noise sensitivity, and even visual disturbances. The exact causes of migraines are unknown, but in women, it is often related to hormonal activity, although an unsuitable diet can also be a cause. Migraines can often be triggered by wine, cheese, or even chocolate. A migraine can last anywhere from a couple of hours to a week.
Tension headaches – the tension can be either mental or muscular. It can arise from stress, fatigue, intense negative emotions, or a forced posture of the shoulder girdle caused by computer work or other reasons. Tension headaches are usually described as a pressing and squeezing pain, often in the neck area, and they can last from half an hour to a week. Generally, the neck, back of the head, and shoulder girdle become tense. If the causes of tension persist, the headaches will recur. It’s clear that in the case of such pain, the escape route would be a mobile, tension-free, and carefree life, but that belongs more to the realm of fiction.
Common Factor of Headache Sufferers
Regardless of the type of headache, according to both WHO and the International Headache Society, numerous studies have revealed an unexpected fact: people who suffer from regular headaches are deficient in magnesium.
The role of magnesium in the body is hard to underestimate. This mineral is the activator or cofactor of nearly 360 enzymes and is essential for regulating blood sugar levels. It helps reduce fatigue and exhaustion, relaxes muscles, supports energy metabolism, and ensures the normal functioning of the nervous system. However, a blood test will not reveal the magnesium levels throughout the body, as only 2% is extracellular and measurable, 67% is located in bones, and the rest is in soft tissue cells.
Therefore, if you experience frequent and recurring headaches, get irritated easily, and your muscles tend to be tense and hard to relax, adding highly absorbable magnesium to your diet might be the lifebuoy you’ve been waiting for.
