Coping With Noise Triggered Headaches

You are not alone if you avoid fireworks on July 4th or frequently find yourself telling your children that their loud voices are giving you a headache. In fact, noise is a commonly reported headache trigger, and there is even research to back this up. 

Let's take a closer look at the science behind these types of headaches, and how you can cope with them.

You may be surprised to learn that noise is a scientifically proven potential headache trigger. In one small study in Headache, 79 percent of people exposed to 50dB of white noise developed a headache, and 82 percent reported that a headache was the same or similar to their usual headaches, which were either migraines or tension-type headaches.

Noise can even be a headache trigger for people who do not generally suffer from headaches. Although people with a headache disorder usually have a lower tolerance for noise and report worse headaches than those who are not typical headache sufferers.

In other words, people with underlying headache disorders appear more vulnerable to loud noise as a potential trigger.

Like all triggers, the precise mechanism behind how noise triggers a headache is unclear. Since noise is a trigger for both migraines and tension-type headaches, there is likely more than one mechanism involved.

One study found that those who developed a headache from noise had an increase in their temporal pulse amplitude, which refers to distention or widening of a superficial blood vessel in the face.

According to more recent migraine theories, the distension of blood vessels surrounding the skull may activate trigeminal sensory nerve fibers. This then evokes the release of proteins, like CGRP, which worsens brain inflammation and thus pain.

Overall, the precise way loud noises cause headaches is likely complicated, but very well could be linked to blood vessel dilation.

Nervous system hyperarousal likely plays a role too, as evidenced by the other symptoms (besides headaches) that occur with persistent and loud noise exposure, including:

• Sleep disturbances (for example, having trouble falling asleep and waking up too early)
• Fatigue
• Eyestrain
• Hypersensitivity to odors

Stopping noises from triggering your headaches can certainly be a dilemma. Since avoiding loud noises may be impossible in some instances (your children are inevitably going to be loud), learning how to cope with loud noises through a process called desensitization may be your best bet.

Desensitizing oneself to headache triggers, like loud noises, means gradually exposing yourself to the headache trigger to decrease your head pain or number of headaches in the future when exposed to that same trigger. Interestingly, this therapy is commonly used for people with anxiety disorders, especially people with phobias.

The idea of learning to cope with triggers through gradual exposure is becoming a more popular treatment for headache health. More studies need to be done, but regardless, this is an exciting, non-invasive intervention and something people with headaches get to take an active role in.

Everyone is different when it comes to headache triggers. If you find that noise is triggering headaches, you may consider avoiding the trigger if it's easy, like avoiding the fireworks that occur once a year or avoiding indoor music concerts. Likewise, if you find that loud noises at work are triggering headaches, talk with your boss about how this can be minimized. Maybe you can wear earplugs or headphones during certain parts of the day.

If you are sensitive to everyday noises than a coping strategy like desensitization may be more useful. Talk with your doctor if you are unsure. Don't let noise-triggering headaches affect your happiness. Take charge of your health.