iPhone app iPad app Android phone app Android tablet app More

Headache-Proof Your Home

Posted: 03/09/2012 7:27 am

Amazing
 Inspiring
 Funny
 Scary
 Hot
 Crazy
 Important
 Weird


By Andrea Bartz

The place where you can put up your feet, relax and... get a headache? Even those who aren't especially prone to pain can be susceptible to the triggers that hole up in your house.

Thankfully, you (and your head) don't have to be held hostage: "You can considerably cut down on the number of headaches you get by controlling factors such as the lighting and smells," says neurologist Brian Grosberg, M.D.

Here are four simple ways to turn your abode into a headache-free zone.

Lower The Lights
1  of  6
PLAY
FULLSCREEN
ZOOM
SHARE THIS SLIDE 
If you're one of the 30 million Americans who get migraines, overly bright lights at home can be a big problem. The brains of folks who suffer from these intense headaches are often extra sensitive to sensory input, and the glaring light from bulbs or even sunlight can cause head-splitting pain, explains Deborah Friedman, M.D., a neurologist at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center.

The flickering quality of fluorescent lights can likewise bring on pain, adds Peter Goadsby, M.D., director of the Headache Center at the University of California-San Francisco.

The fix: While there's no perfect lightbulb option, dim incandescent bulbs (the lower the wattage, the better) are generally preferable to halogens and fluorescents because they emit a steadier, more muted light.

Install dimmers so you can darken a room when you feel a headache coming on, Dr. Goadsby advises. And hang blinds or shades to shield you from any streaming sunlight.

More from Health.com:
Get Headaches? Smart Ways to Deal
Headache-Proof Your Diet
Surprising Headache Triggers
MORE SLIDESHOWS NEXT >   |   < PREV

For more on personal health, click here.

FOLLOW HUFFPOST HEALTHY LIVING

By Andrea Bartz The place where you can put up your feet, relax and... get a headache? Even those who aren't especially prone to pain can be susceptible to the triggers that hole up in your house...
By Andrea Bartz The place where you can put up your feet, relax and... get a headache? Even those who aren't especially prone to pain can be susceptible to the triggers that hole up in your house...
Related News On Huffington Post:
 

Read more from Huffington Post bloggers:
Lee Woodruff

Lee Woodruff: A Shock to the Brain

The odd juxtaposition between Bob's near-death blast from a roadside bomb and his subsequent recovery against a Mom's simple fall on a bunny slope resulting in death is the very thing that makes brain injury so hard to comprehend.
Dr. Andrew Weil

Dr. Andrew Weil: A Better Route to Migraine Relief

Migraines can be excruciating for patients, incapacitating them for hours or days at a time. They are also frustrating for doctors, who often find that the condition resists their best efforts at treatment.
Mark Hyman, MD

Mark Hyman, MD: How To Eliminate Migraines And Headaches In Less Than A Week

More than 10 million Americans have migraines creating a burden of mostly unnecessary suffering. These severe, nearly disabling headaches can occur once a year to three to four times a week.

Filed by Sarah Klein  | 
 
 
  • Comments
  • 2
  • Pending Comments
  • 0
  • View FAQ
Post Comment Preview Comment
To reply to a Comment: Click "Reply" at the bottom of the comment; after being approved your comment will appear directly underneath the comment you replied to.
View All
Recency  | 
Popularity
photo
HUFFPOST SUPER USER
Dubagee
7 Fans
06:15 PM on 03/10/2012
Too bad I am a sucker for scented candles!

http://youtu.be/JHttdp6_JZM
http://youtu.be/_UHQQ2KX3Ys
http://gigieatscelebrities.com
Permalink  |
photo
HUFFPOST SUPER USER
onwisconsin
Trust women; protect choice.
2064 Fans
12:12 PM on 03/10/2012
My husband goes through the house opening blinds in the morning, letting the light in. If I'm going to be home, I go through the house closing at least half of them. One of my migraine triggers is too much direct light. On migraine days, he closes all of the blinds and puts up blackout curtains in the bedroom (otherwise we don't have curtains because of my dust allergy).
Permalink  |