Why do I get a headache on the weekend?

Paradoxically, weekend relaxation can actually favor it in predisposed people, also because it reduces coffee consumption. But fortunately, it can also disappear easily.

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weekend headache
Il weekend headache (often also called weekend headache) arises above all from sudden changes in habitsCompared to workdays. The brain, accustomed to certain rhythms, reacts poorly when they change abruptly. Paradoxically, but only apparently so, it is precisely the beneficial relaxation of the weekend (or even the beginning of vacation) that, in predisposed people, favors the onset of headaches.
One explanation given for this unique pain mechanism, which is not yet fully understood, is that the psychophysical relaxation that follows stress causes a change in certain hormonal and biochemical balances, which are somehow responsible for the crisis. When we are under stress, the body produces a large amount of hormones, including cortisolWhen your pace slows down, hormone levels drop sharply: the rapid drop in cortisol and other hormones causes headaches, known as weekend headaches.

Cause

 
  • One of the first causes is sleep longer than usual (especially in the morning) and going to bed and waking up at different times than usual. This alters circadian rhythms and can trigger headaches, especially migraines. Then there is the reduction of coffee, which we traditionally consume during workdays: caffeine withdrawal causes cerebral vasodilation and therefore the painful discomfort of headaches.
  • Some scientific studies have examined other possible causes of weekend headaches, starting with changes in eating habits on weekends: eating later and with larger portions than usual; consuming more alcohol or foods rich in fat. These are habits that can lower the risk of glycemia or activate migraine triggers.
  • It also stance It could be one cause: on weekends we spend more time on the sofa and on the phone, with postures that are probably incorrect and that contribute to headaches.
  • One of the most important and complete studies on weekend headaches dates back to the late 1990s, but is still considered a compass to orient oneself in the quicksand of this problem: researchers suggest that the transition from the stressful work week to the weekend can act as a triggering factor and however  its appearance is more likely a activation phenomenon of an existing underlying headache, even if in a latent state.

Symptoms

  • The symptoms of weekend headaches are the classic ones for these types of disorders:
  • An intense pain, a real pounding that generally involves only one side of the head and intensifies with movement.
  • Feeling of constriction and heavy head.
  • Annoyance due to lights and noises.
  • Nausea, chills and paleness.
  • Shortly before or during the crisis, irritability, tiredness, drowsiness, and a tendency to mood swings may also appear.

Remedies

There's no point wasting money on medications: fortunately for those who suffer from this disorder, medical experience shows that weekend headaches go away easily and are certainly not a life sentence.
Especially if you practice some natural remedies, such as:
  • If you're used to drinking multiple cups of coffee while working, there's no need to cut them out on weekends. If anything, you should reduce them, but without sacrificing your traditional caffeine intake.
  • Don't eat too much or too much. The same goes for wine and spirits.
  • Distract yourself by exercising curiosity and lightness
  • Sleeping more is good, as is relaxing in bed for half an hour after waking up. But again, don't overdo it.
  • Keep regular hours as much as possible, even on weekends, and try not to oversleep just to catch up on sleep on the weekend
  • Avoid further work commitments
  • Do physical activity, even a simple one walk
  • Don't overpack your weekend schedule. After all, these are days you need to recharge your batteries, including your mental energy, and relax.

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