With the holidays, come headaches

Syracuse (WSYR-TV) -- You may have a lot going on this holiday season that makes you feel like your head is going to explode, but did you know that the holidays can actually cause headaches?

Stress is one obvious contributor. “Shop till you drop” can become a pain in the brain by the time you track down all those presents on your gift list.

Another culprit: Those rich foods and drinks that you don’t ordinarily indulge in. That includes alcohol, which many people overdo amid all the holiday cheer.

Smells can also trigger migraines. Holiday candles and wreaths give off unfamiliar odors that can bring on headaches.

And busy holiday schedules scramble our normal sleep patterns, which can also cause headaches.

But brace yourself for the stress relief headache. Yes, some headaches are actually caused by relief felt after the fact.