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Why do headaches hurt more when I look down?

sorgoth

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Aug 9, 2002
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Well, I've got a headache, and I notice that whenever I do and I look down, it hurts more. Apparently,it's like this for a lot of other people too. Why?
 
I'm picking something up...

You wear eyeglasses. You have been reading a book or using the computer all afternoon.

When you take off your glasses and close your eyes, the pain receeds. Putting a warm damp washcloth over your eyes and forehead feels good.
 
Yup. Actually taking off the glasses and the damp cloth thing works...

Still doesn't explain why a headache would hurt more when looking down, or moving too fast.
 
arcticpenguin said:
Putting a warm damp washcloth over your eyes and forehead feels good.
Click to expand...

Awww, ithn't that thweet! Little AP knows just what to do when he has a headache. Such a smart boy! Then, if he's lucky, mummy tucks him in and reads him a story.
 
Unless you are unnaturally tall, I would say looking down at the ground forces your eyes and brain to quickly adjust to the perspective (usually much closer) and proximity of objects. Not to mention it shifts the fluids inside your ear that tell you which direction is "up".

I would also say there is some psychological principles as well. When you look down (or subconsciously realize you are looking down) you may become more aware of the pain. If you work for a while and forget about the headache, the pain may seem less severe.

Stay out of flourescent lighting when you can.

(Please alert me if my explanations are at all "stupid", I wasnt able to google up any websites with useful information.)
 
Is it worse when you look down (but keep the head steady) or if you flex your neck?
 
try holding your breath and jumping up and down vigorously for as long as you can without passing out...........
 
I think your headache is due to eyestrain. You might want to run this by your eyecare professional.

Since your eyes are having trouble focusing (out of date eyeglass prescription, or maybe you are becoming 'more mature' and need bifocals), the muscles around your eyes and temples are straining to help with squinting/focusing. So even though the cause is eyestrain, it is actually a muscular problem. That accounts for your specific symptoms.
 
Hm. I get reeeallly bad headaches when I don't have enough caffiene, and when that happens I can't look down, bend over or lay down because it hurts a lot more. Could that be because of the fact that caffiene constricts your blood vessels? Just curious.
 
sorgoth said:
Well, I've got a headache, and I notice that whenever I do and I look down, it hurts more. Apparently,it's like this for a lot of other people too. Why?
Click to expand...
You're ashamed of your ugly feet. :roll:
 
Phaycops said:
Hm. I get reeeallly bad headaches when I don't have enough caffiene, and when that happens I can't look down, bend over or lay down because it hurts a lot more. Could that be because of the fact that caffiene constricts your blood vessels? Just curious.
Click to expand...
I used to get those, too. Took me well over a year to cut down my coffee intake gradually (from 7-10 cups a day in college, plus soda). Then, one day, I just stopped. No headache. I still drank soda for another year+, but now I don't drink that, either.
 
sorgoth said:
Well, I've got a headache, and I notice that whenever I do and I look down, it hurts more. Apparently,it's like this for a lot of other people too. Why?
Click to expand...
You're probably not seeing the falling anvils.
 
Looking down stretches and tightens the muscles at the back of your neck. This applies more force to the back of the skull where the muscles are anchored, and so increases the pressure applied to the brain.

Hey that explanation must be true - there used to be something like that in some pain killer advert, Anadin?

ceptimus.
 
dwb said:
I used to get those, too. Took me well over a year to cut down my coffee intake gradually (from 7-10 cups a day in college, plus soda). Then, one day, I just stopped. No headache. I still drank soda for another year+, but now I don't drink that, either.
Click to expand...

Meh, I don't *mind* the headaches. I'm just wondering why they cause me so much pain when I bend over. I'm still going with causing blood to rush to my head, or something. Cutting down on my coffee intake seems a drastic approach to alleviating headaches considering all I need to do to alleviate the headache is have a cup of coffee :D
 
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