You’re an active healthy person who enjoys life, but there is nothing worse than a nagging, throbbing headache that stops you from enjoying your day.

Headaches can be caused by muscle tension and are often the result of a stressful lifestyle so it may not always be possible to prevent this kind of headache 100% of the time.

These painful attacks can interfere with your ability to perform well at work, with your children or stop you from making the most of your sporting activity. For this reason it is a good idea to take steps to try to prevent headache rather than treating one once it has taken hold.

Headaches affect everybody from time to time. Throbbing head pain is related to the sensitive arteries of the scalp and from some areas of the membranes surrounding the brain, not from the brain itself.

Tension headaches are the most common kind of head pain and account for more than half of reported attacks. Pain can occur in any part of the head and is usually worse at the end of the day or when we are particularly stressed. They are caused by muscle contractions of the neck, shoulders and face and don’t respond well to conventional pain medications.

Changing your daily routine may help to prevent a headache and keeping a headache diary may help you to identify possible triggers. Here are some tips on how to prevent headache:

* Always eat regularly and never allow more than five hours between meals. This will keep your glucose levels in check. Never fast or skip meals and make sure to choose foods that are well balanced and nutritious.

* Get enough sleep and keep a regular schedule. Go to bed at the same time each night and rise at the same time each morning, even on weekends. This will get your body into a stable routine.

* Strengthen your neck muscles by means of physical therapy or stretching. This will help to improve your posture and increase your neck and shoulder mobility.

* Get regular exercise by walking, cycling, jogging, swimming, or even dancing and gardening. These are all great ways to stay fit and relieve stress. Walking is a good choice if you tend to hold tension in your neck and shoulders.

* Do relaxation exercises once or twice each day for a period of ten to twenty minutes.

* Massage the neck, back and shoulders each day and especially if you feel a headache about to start.

* Watch your posture and body mechanics by:

* Sitting straight in your chair and keeping your lower back supported. This is especially important if you spend most of the day sitting down. Take a break each hour to stretch the neck and back muscles by doing neck rolls or touching your toes.

* If you work on a computer all day make sure to position your monitor so that the top of your screen is at eye level. Make use of a document holder so that your work is at screen level.

* If you spend a lot of time on the phone, invest in a headset or speakerphone. Don’t scrunch the handset between your shoulder and your ear.

* Make an appointment for a dental check up and yearly eye examinations.

In general it may be a good idea to watch the following potential headache triggers:

* Alcohol and caffeine (coffee, tea, or soda pop).
* Sudden caffeine withdrawal.
* Very salty foods or foods that contain the preservative MSG.
* Poor eating habits, including missing meals, extreme diets, and fasting.
* Dehydration.
* Changes in usual sleep patterns, not getting enough sleep, or oversleeping.
* Stress, anxiety, or depression.
* Heart medications, blood pressure medications, and hormones.
* Poor posture and body mechanics.
* Smoking cigarettes, cigars, or breathing secondhand smoke.
* Glare from sunlight or artificial light.
* Exposure to strong odors.
* Strain in the muscles of the jaw from grinding or clenching teeth or chewing gum.

Ways to Prevent Headache in Children

* Ensure that your child gets enough rest.
* Make nutritious snacks and beverages available throughout the day. Avoid salty foods or carbonated beverages.
* Don’t let your child skip meals.

These are just a few of the ways in which we can prevent headache from taking hold. Practice these healthy habits on a daily basis and you may notice the frequency and severity of your headaches begin to decrease. You will also feel and look healthier by following a well balanced diet and getting more exercise. It is possible to prevent headache the natural way. With any luck you can cross that bottle of headache tablets off your shopping list next month!