The Weekend Migraine



Your week has been crazy and you’re counting the hours until Saturday, when you can finally sleep in. There’s just one thing standing in your way: a throbbing pain in your temples and around your eyes. Welcome to the wonderful world of weekend migraines. They are headaches triggered by a change in routine — nicknamed “weekend migraines” because they commonly start on Saturday mornings for nine-to-fivers who have the weekend off. The condition is sometimes referred to as a “let-down headache.” So, what causes them? On a day off, you’re likely to sleep later, consume more alcohol, drink caffeine at random times, and eat different types of food. Any of these habits can trigger a migraine, but mix them all together and wham! In addition, if you’ve been pushing yourself hard at work all week, it’s common to experience a headache when you finally allow yourself to take a breather. How can you prevent weekend migraines? You’re not gonna like this news, but the best plan is to keep your weekend routine as close as possible to your weekday routine. Yep, even if that means waking up at 7 a.m. and drinking a cup of coffee instead of sleeping until noon and having a mimosa. It’s a small price to pay for a blissful, headache-free weekend.