The headache of finding clothes that fit after you’ve gained weight is certainly irritating, but it’s not the only mind-numbing problem you’ll experience. According researchers at the New England Center for Headache in Stamford, Connecticut, obese adults are nearly twice as likely as their normal-weight counterparts to suffer from chronic headaches. They also discovered that obese adults miss more work days each year due to these headaches.
But why does obesity put you at a higher risk? Headaches are triggered by constricted blood vessels caused by inflammation. And since being obese contributes to both inflammation and vascular diseases, researchers believe the link is justified. Fortunately, the study also found that it was not any more difficult to treat headaches in overweight and obese individuals than in healthy-weight adults.
What can help? Not too surprisingly, past studies have found that regular exercise reduces the frequency and severity of headaches. Working up a good sweat also aids weight loss, which is two-fold for headache-sufferers.
Feel a headache coming? Don’t be afraid to “walk it off.”
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