According to a survey conducted by the National Headache Foundation, about half of all headache sufferers blame headache triggers like bright lights, computers, and loud noise. “Many common headache triggers occur in the home,” says MaryAnn Mays, MD, a neurologist who specializes in headaches at the Cleveland Clinic. “Home odors, bright lighting, and loud noise can all trigger headaches or make headaches worse,” adds Dr. Mays. “Making your home a headache-free zone may not eliminate all your headaches, but it can certainly help.”
How You Can Overcome Your Headache Triggers
Bright Light Relief “The types of light that may trigger a migraine headache includes bright sunlight, overhead fluorescent lighting, and any type of flickering light,” says Mays. Common sources of flickering light are your computer screen and television. Here are some tips for headache-free lighting at home:
Use drapes over your windows to dim bright outside light.Arrange your home furniture so you’re not sitting in bright light.Change harsh lightbulbs to softer lighting.Have dimmers on your overhead lights.Step away from your computer frequently.
Perfume and Other Odor Relief “Cigarette smoke is the most obvious odor you want to keep out of your home, but headaches can also be triggered by cleaning products, flooring, carpeting, and even the deodorizers you use to control odors,” says Mays. “Perfumes and scented candles are common triggers. Most people know right away when an odor is a trigger for them.” A recent study from Brazil surveyed 98 men with migraine and found that odors were a trigger for 48 percent of them, second only to stress. And 73 percent said that odors made their migraines worse, second only to light. The biggest odor offenders were cigarettes, perfume, and cleaning products. Odor tips for a headache-free home include:
Make your home free of fragrance offenders like scented candles, cologne and perfumes, lotions, flowers, and air fresheners.Use natural or fragrance-free cleaning products.Run a good air filter in your home.Leave your house for a few days if you’re having new flooring or carpeting put in.
Loud Noise Relief Noise can be both a trigger and a worsening factor for headaches. You can make your home more headache-free by reducing indoor noise and keeping out outdoor noise. “Heavy drapes may help insulate your home from noise,” says Mays. “If you can’t avoid noise, there are always earplugs or headphones.” Other noise tips include:
Instead of music with a loud, heavy beat, play soothing sounds.Turn down the TV. If others need the TV loud, use earphones or suggest they use amplifying earphones themselves.Have a quiet room in your house that you can escape to, free of sound and fury.
Allergen Relief “The main indoor allergens that may trigger a headache are dust and mold,” says Mays. If you are allergic to either one, an allergy-free home may be the ticket to a headache-free home. Follow dust and mold tips such as:
Reduce humidity with a home dehumidifier.Enclose your mattress and pillows in plastic cases.Wash all bedding once a week in hot (130-degree) water.Vacuum twice a week with a filtered vacuum cleaner.Clean up damp areas under sinks and around drains.
“A final tip is to simplify your home environment,” says Mays. “Stress causes headaches also — you can reduce stress by decreasing clutter and getting your home better organized.” The hustle and bustle of the real world offers plenty of headache triggers, making it all the more important to make your home a headache-free refuge.
