Diet-induced Headaches: Root Causes and Relief Strategies
In a recent development, several common habits have been identified as potential risk factors for dementia. These habits include chronic poor sleep, physical inactivity, social isolation or loneliness, skipping breakfast, multitasking overload, and poor cardiovascular health habits such as smoking, hypertension, obesity, and diabetes.
Let's delve into the key details of these habits and their impact on brain health.
Skipping restorative sleep interferes with the brain's ability to clear toxins like beta-amyloid, which is associated with Alzheimer's, and causes poorer memory and cognitive performance[1].
Physical inactivity is a major modifiable risk factor; a sedentary lifestyle reduces brain health and raises dementia risk[1][3].
Social isolation and loneliness are strongly linked to increased dementia risk, comparable to physical inactivity or smoking[1][2].
Skipping breakfast is linked to worse short- and long-term brain health since the brain needs glucose after fasting overnight[3].
Overloading on multitasking impairs memory, concentration, and mental clarity, contributing to cognitive strain and decline[2].
Additionally, poor cardiovascular health (hypertension, obesity, diabetes, smoking) contributes to about 35% of dementia cases, highlighting the connection between heart and brain health[3][5].
While dementia can cause changes in eating habits as it progresses, such as altered food preferences or eating non-food items, these are generally symptoms rather than causes[4].
To reduce the risk of dementia, adopting habits that support cardiovascular health, ensuring adequate sleep, staying physically and socially active, eating regular nutrient-rich meals, and focusing attention on one task at a time can be beneficial[1][2][3].
It's also crucial to be aware of the signs indicating the need for emergency medical attention. The National Library of Medicine provides such a list, and in cases of serious medical symptoms, immediate attention is required, either by referring to the National Library of Medicine's list or calling 911.
For those seeking guidance on dietary changes, the National Institutes of Health offer information on multivitamins and which one to choose. Additionally, Harvard Health Publishing discusses what Keto Flu is, and the Cleveland Clinic provides information on dehydration headaches and electrolyte imbalance. The Association of Migraine Disorders also provides information on migraine triggers.
Remember, maintaining a healthy lifestyle is key to reducing the risk of dementia and other serious health conditions. Always consult with a healthcare professional for personalised advice and guidance.
[1] Alzheimer's Research & Therapy, 2017 [2] Journal of Alzheimer's Disease, 2019 [3] Neurobiology of Aging, 2020 [4] Dementia and Geriatric Cognitive Disorders, 2018 [5] Lancet Neurology, 2017
Science reveals a connection between poor cardiovascular health (hypertension, obesity, diabetes, smoking) and about 35% of dementia cases, emphasizing the importance of maintaining heart health for brain health.
Health-and-wellness advice suggests adopting habits that support cardiovascular health, ensuring adequate sleep, staying physically and socially active, eating regular nutrient-rich meals, and focusing attention on one task at a time to reduce the risk of dementia.
