How to Find Out if Inflammation is Triggering Your Headaches?

Dear Dr. Banerjee: Last fall I came back from Italy. I was there for about three weeks. In the middle of that time I got very sick. When I came back home I felt a lot better, but about three months ago, I started to get excruciating headaches. I've never noticed these kind of headaches before. They're the ones that make you want to pull your hair out. When I get these headaches I bacially stay indoors for a day or two. For those two days I don't want to do anything. I just lie in my room with all the lights off. Do you have any idea why I am getting these headaches? And more importantly, how do I get rid of the headaches. - April W., Denver.

Dear April:  There are many different types of headaches. But the important thing is to ask yourself what's causing your headaches. Proper testing is the key to finding out the underlining cause of your headaches.

You may also want to write a headache diary.  Basically it would be a journal of your episodes of having headaches. And the idea of keeping a journal is to track the pattern of your headaches. The headache diary is a great tool to help you find out what is actually triggering your headaches.

Triggers are physiological things you may encounter anywhere. They can bring on a headache or migraine.  After you have logged your headaches in your journal for about three weeks, you will start noticing some potential triggers.

Also, did you ever find out why you got sick on your trip to Italy? Was it a bacterial infection, parasite, or a viral infection? See, pain can cause stress hormones to elevate. And the most common source of chronic inflammation to your body comes from your gut. In other words, if you have a low grade gut inflammation, that could translate into bloating. When your gut gets inflamed from foods or infection from parasites, then you're going to get bloating and inflammation throughout your whole body. One way you can get control of your inflammation systemically is through testing your gut and fixing your digestive tract.

That will reduce inflammation within the digestive tract and will allow your body a chance to heal. As far as inflammation in other parts the body, to find out what's actually causing your headaches you should start with an adrenal stress test and a test to see how healthy your gut is.

After you find out what's actually causing your headaches, then there will be a strategic planning time for you and your doctor to sit down and plan out strategies to get rid of your headaches. They should pick one strategy and and stick to it for two to three months, because that's how long it will take for you to notice any real healing.

I hope this helps. If you have any other questions make sure you subscribe to my FREE video newsletter. I answer many important questions in my Newsletter. Check it out.