Self Help

There is a connection between headaches and many other factors that increase levels of blood fat. One of them is smoking. Among the many problems and risks, smoking is known to cause headaches or to exacerbate their symptoms. Smoking increases levels of LDL, the “bad” cholesterol, but it also increases the blood’s viscosity and platelet clustering, which can encourage the formation of blood clots.

Another critical factor in controlling headaches is physical activity. It is important to realize that a lack of physical activity, as well as too much of it, may bring about a rise in levels of blood fat. A sedentary lifestyle has a profound effect on the body’s metabolism, making it difficult to clear fat from the bloodstream.

At the other extreme, excessive exercise induces a temporary state of hypoglycemia because it depletes the body’s sugar reserves. The depletion of blood sugar forces the body to increase the level of fat in the blood in order to provide the necessary fuel to muscles and other tissues.

Stress is another well-known headache trigger. Chronic stress can cause a number of biochemical imbalances, which the body tries to correct. For instance, psychological or emotional problems resulting from overwhelming amounts of work, relationship problems, or financial worries are common sources of stress. Different environmental or physical pressures including injury, pollution, lack of oxygen, hypothermia, and hyperthermia can also cause a stress response.

Like all the other triggers discussed above, stress causes blood-fat levels to rise. In the case of physical or environmental triggers, the body provides additional fuel to cope with the stress situation. In the case of psychological stress triggers, the body prepares itself for a fight or flight response to a perceived danger by providing the necessary fuel for the expected physical activity.

Unfortunately, stress in our society is rarely relieved by a physical fight or by running away, and so the increased fat remains in the bloodstream. You may already be aware that stress causes a rise in cholesterol, which is one type of fat. In fact, prolonged stress causes an accumulation of all types of fats in the blood.

Finally, oral contraceptives and some types of hormonal therapy may produce headaches. This applies particularly to products containing high levels of estrogen. By now you may have guessed the reason. Yes, once again, fat is the culprit. Fluctuations in estrogen levels influence the amount of fat in the blood and cause headaches.