Weekend migraine: what causes it? 

You’ve been looking forward to Saturday all week. The thought of sleeping in and perhaps treating yourself or enjoying a night out fills you with joy, but suddenly, your head doesn’t cooperate, and you get an extreme headache. Sound familiar?  

If so, there’s a good chance you suffer from weekend migraine. In this article, we’ll explain what causes it and what you can do to manage it. 

What is weekend migraine? 

If you want to know how to deal with weekend migraine, it’s helpful to understand what it exactly is. A weekend migraine is a type of headache that usually occurs due to a change in your routine. The name ‘weekend migraine’ originated because it typically affects nine to five workers who have weekends off. 

 What causes weekend migraine? 

On a day off, you may sleep a bit longer, perhaps consume more alcohol the night before, drink caffeine at random times instead of your usual morning/work coffee routine and eat various types of food. All these changes in your habits can trigger migraines. If you combine them, you can almost certainly expect a migraine attack on Saturday morning. Additionally, it often occurs when you’ve had a lot of work-related stress, and during the weekend, you finally let go of everything to catch your breath, which can lead to headaches. 

 How can you prevent weekend migraine? 

You might not like hearing this, but if you want to prevent weekend migraines, it’s best to stick as closely as possible to your workday routine.  

Yes, even if it means waking up at seven in the morning to have a cup of coffee instead of sleeping in or enjoying your usual Saturday brunch. It might not entirely be the weekend of luxury you planned, but you can do much more in a headache-free weekend than in a weekend with throbbing pain. 

If your headaches persist even when you maintain your workday routine on weekends, it’s wise to consult a specialist. They can help you identify other triggers and prescribe appropriate medication. After all, weekends are for relaxation and doing what you want, not for headaches.