Inside this Issue
A Dream of a Better Place | Page 2
Local Club for Sustainability on Campus| Page 5
Looking Forward to a New World | Page 7
The Bengal
isubengal.com 20 January 2021
Volume 46 Issue 16
The Independent Voice at Idaho State University Since 1910
ASISU Election Season is Here Logan Ramsey News Editor The arrival of the spring semester also brings the arrival of the Associated Students of Idaho State University (ASISU) election season. The dates when voting will take place will be from March 16 to March 20. Candidate packages will be available by February and they’ll be due by February 8. Rather than just plan events and fundraise, like many other systems of student government, ASISU determines and sets the budget for student organizations, deciding how and where student fees will be spent. Students who are interested in running for elected office and representing the student body from their college can get access to these packages by going to the ASISU website. From there, the student candidate can begin running for office and publicizing their platform. According to Aarianna Harmon, Elections Publicity Coordinator, this year will have similar virtual outreach that last year’s election had, due to the ongoing pandemic. This actually made it easier for them to engage with students on social media. Harmon has also observed ASISU working together well despite the stresses of the pandemic. “I definitely see everyone, even with the pandemic and some of us meeting online, that people are still able to work together and be a team,” Harmon said. Harmon decided to get involved with ASISU because of her interest in politics, as she’s a political science major and has been on the Bannock County Precinct Committee. “I like to help influence change or policy where I can,” Harmon said. However, you don’t have to be a political science major to pursue a position in ASISU. There are senator positions for the College of Arts & Letters, Business, Education, Graduate Studies, Health Professions, Nursing, Pharmacy, Rehabilitation & Communication Sciences, Science & Engineering and Technology. This is to ensure that
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students from all across ISU have representation. Brandon Reid, Senator for the College of Nursing, who started his term in Fall 2020, “saw ASISU as an avenue to try and make positive changes for students.” He especially wanted to represent nursing students. Previously, the College of Nursing was represented under the College of Health Professions. “I would advise students that ASISU is a great opportunity to get involved in student government and gain leadership skills. I think anyone that wants to make a change, stand up for their fellow classmates, or has any interest in student government should run for office,” Reid said. Pamela Pascali, Senator for the College of Arts & Letters, said that she first became interested in running for ASISU when she saw her husband elected as a Graduate Studies Senator. She started her term in Fall 2020 and her goal, “has always been to be a voice for inclusion and equity.” Pascali serves on the Rules Appointment Committee, which proofreads bills and resolutions. She makes it a point to ensure that they’re using inclusive language. She’s also worked on a resolution to give support to the Pocatello Human Rights Advisory Committee’s Resolution of Welcome, which the Pocatello City Council later passed. Senators Kay, Winslow and Pascali are working on a resolution to voice issues with the administration bringing Chick-fil-A to our campus due to their problematic past with LGBTQIA+ issues. “I would advise any student to go for it! Run for office! It is not as daunting as it seems and the connections you make while serving are amazing,” Pascali said.
Featured: Brandon Reid Cover Photo by Brandon Oram | Photo Editor
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The Bengal at Idaho State University
20 January 2021 • Page 2
NEWS
Logan Ramsey | News Editor Contact: bgnews@isu.edu
Martin Luther King Jr.: A Dream of a Better Place Andrea Diaz Reporter Martin Luther King Jr. (MLK) Day is an official statewide holiday that celebrates MLK’s life and accomplishments. This day is often associated with acts of service and is celebrated on every third Monday in January. King lived from 1929-1968 and in this time he progressed and changed society for the better. He is a man of many great accomplishments, most famously for leading the fight for equality and rights to all people by helping end segregation and pushed for the signing of the Civil Rights Act. King was most known for fighting for minorities to have equal rights, however a lot of people aren’t aware of his other notable accomplishments. “One of my favorite things about Doctor King is that he not only loved people of color, he was a massive advocate for the Jewish community as well. He truly was trying to seek reparation for them as well,” said Deja Bingham, an Idaho State University student who spoke at the university’s MLK Day Celebration. King was considered a great ally to the Jewish community and fought against antisemitism. King was considered a radical during his lifetime and was arrested nearly 30 times. His ideals went against commonly held beliefs of people in the United States. “He fought against several church leaders, the Vietnam war, and tried very hard to educate people on how to better understand the economic system,” Bingham said. There were many demonstrations and protests that King organized and was the leader of including: the Montgomery Bus Boycott, protesting segregation in an Atlanta department store and a campaign to end segregation, with many peaceful mass meetings, sit-ins and marches in Birmingham, Alabama. According to Stanford University, during the campaign in Birmingham demonstrators were met with resistance from the police force at many peaceful protests and marches. Commissioner of Public Safety, Bull Connor, for the city of Birmingham was largely responsible for the tactics used by law enforcement. Connor ordered law enforcement to disperse the protestors in any way possible so their solution was to spray them with fire hoses and let loose police dogs on the men, women, and even children. According to Steven Levingston from the Washington Post, “To supercharge the water jets, firefighters had funneled the flow of two hoses into one nozzle, packing it with such ballistic fury it dislodged bricks from buildings. These jets were
driven across the kids’ bodies, lacerating their flesh, tearing clothing off their backs; hitting the elm trees in nearby Kelly Ingram Park, the blasts ripped off the bark. The children, knocked to the pavement, crawled away; some struggled to their feet with bloody noses and gashes on their faces.” According to Time Magazine, “Look at ‘em run,’’ yelled Connor. He saw an officer holding back a crowd of white people nearby. “Let those people come to the corner, sergeant,” shouted Connor. “I want ‘em to see the dogs work. King was later assassinated on April 4, 1968, but the fight for equality never ended. “I feel MLK much like most of history, is watered down. They don’t get into the fact
that he was considered radical, his ideas were outlandish to some. What he was fighting for was the reason he died,” said Bingham. As a society we have come a long way, however there is still much work to be done. The deaths of many innocent Black people sparked the largest civil rights movement in history in 2020. The Black Lives Matter movement sparked nationwide attention and many protests and marches occurred to fight against the killings of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Elijah McClain and so many others. “We need to be real about the way Black people were treated in America,” Bingham said. This Martin Luther King Jr. Day we as a society can educate ourselves on various
topics relating to MLK and involve ourselves in acts of service. When asked about how to celebrate MLK Day, Bingham said, “Learn. Not just about him but many of the other civil right leaders. Learn about the people fighting against. Several members put on community events, and programs. Be kinder to others and stand up for what you believe in. Talk about how we can do better as a whole!” “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly,” said King.
Photo Courtesy of Wiki Commons
Martin Luther King Jr. Trivia Joanna Orban Copy Editor
1. At what age did MLK start college? 2. How many times was MLK jailed? 3. How old was MLK when he won the Nobel Peace Prize?
4. What day was MLK Day first observed as a federal holiday? 5. At what church did King serve at as a pastor? .. ..
Find answers on Instagram @ISUBengal
6. What was the name of MLK’s wife?
9. How many children did MLK have?
7. What year was MLK born?
10. What did MLK receive his doctorate degree in?
8. What was MLK’s birth name? .
Page 3 • 20 January 2021
The Bengal at Idaho State University
NEWS
Logan Ramsey | News Editor Contact: bgnews@isu.edu
Bengals Rally After Late Sac State Push to Win 77-70 Idaho State Athletics Submitted Content The Idaho State Bengals battled to a 7770 win over the Hornets of Sacramento State Saturday in Sacramento, Calif. The Bengals are now at a program best 10-1 and 8-0 (Big Sky Conference) record. In a game that saw 13 lead changes, the Bengals hit vital field goals at the end of the fourth and survived a strong Sacramento State surge to end the game. After four early lead changes in the first quarter, Delaney Moore hit a layup with 3:14 to play in the period giving the Bengals a 14-13 lead. The Bengals would then go on to hit four-of-five field goals to lead 23-20 at the end of the first after a Dora Goles buzzer beating three-pointer. The Hornets came back in the second, hitting a layup with 6:12 left to cut the Ben-
gal lead to 29-24. They then went on a 7-0 run to take a 31-29 lead with 3:34 left in the period.. The Bengals didn’t back down, Diaba Konate hit a free-throw with 2:49 left, bringing the score to within one at 31-30. With 46 seconds left in the half, Moore battled through a pack of three Hornet defenders for a layup to give the Bengals the 32-31 lead heading into halftime. The Hornets came out in the third and retook the lead with 6:36 to play after a pair of free throws to make the score 4036. Goles responded with a three-point jump shot to bring the Bengals back within one. Both teams battled back and forth until 2:12 left in the period whenMoore hit a jump shot to tie the game at 45 apiece. The Bengals went on a 8-0 run over the final two minutes that was highlighted by a three-point buzzer beater by Bourne to give the Bengals a 53-45 lead entering the
final period. The Bengals started the fourth by extending their lead to 15 points with 6:29 left after a layup by Estefania Ors to make the score 63-48. The Hornets countered with a 15-0 run over the next two and a half minutes that saw three 3’s and three free throws to tie the game at 63-63 with 3:52 to play. Facing the Hornets comeback push, Goles stole the ball and dished to Ors who laid it in to give the Bengals a 67-66 lead with 2:17 to play. The Bengals then iced the game thanks to layups by Goles and Moore and a pair of free throws by Konate and Goles to win the contest 77-70. The Bengals finished the game shooting 50.9 percent from the field on 28-of-55 shots. Four Bengals scored in double digits with Callie Bourne scoring a career-high 21 points on nine-of-16 shooting. Goles
scored 15 points and Konate and Moore brought in 12 apiece. From behind the arc, the Bengals shot 37.5 percent with Goles going three-offive. Ors hit another three in the game giving her sole possession of second-place for all-time three pointers made in ISU history. The Bengals tied the Hornets in rebounds with 31,. Bourne led the Bengals with eight boards including a team-high three offensive grabs. Moore finished with seven rebounds. The Bengals return home on Thursday, Jan. 21 and Saturday, January 23 as they host the Portland State Vikings. Coverage will be provided on Pluto TV and KISU with radio host Mark Liptak calling all the action. Visit ISUBengals.com to follow along with the action and receive news and updates.
Featured: Callie Bourne Photo Courtesy of Idaho State Univeristy
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The Bengal at Idaho State University
20 January 2021 • Page 4
NEWS
Logan Ramsey | News Editor Contact: bgnews@isu.edu
Bengals Take Down Sacremento State in OT Idaho State Athletics Submitted Content
Featured: Tarik Cool Photo Courtesy of Idaho State Athletics
Featued: Austin Smellie Photo Courtesy of Idaho State Athletics
The Idaho State men men’s basketball team won a 57-56 overtime thriller over the Sacramento State Hornets at Reed Gym on Sunday afternoon to bring their winning streak to four. Idaho State has won seven of its last eight games. Tarik Cool and Brayden Parker led the way with both scoring 18 points. Cool was 4-4 at the free throw line, while Parker shot a solid 9-13 from the field. Robert Ford III also added 8 points with 13 rebounds. For the game, the Bengals shot 42 percent from the field and 11-14 from the free throw line and held a lead by as many as 10 points in the first half. Sacramento State was able to get a lot of help from the three as they managed to hit seven from deep while shooting 41% (7-17). ISU managed to out rebound the Hornets 37-35. The Bengals started quick as Cool made two three’s to give his team an early 6-2 lead. The Bengals maintained its lead leading 11-4 with 12:39 left in the first half. Thanks to the offensive production of Cool, the Bengals took their biggest lead of the game at 25-15 with 5:15 left until halftime following a 3-pointer by Daxton Carr. Cool scored 11 of the Bengals first 13 points and had 16 at the break. The Bengals led 30-23 at halftime. The Hornets came out of the half with an 8-0 run to take their first lead of the game at 31-30 with 17:33 left in the game. Parker answered the cold stretch hitting a jump shot to give ISU the lead once again at 3231 a minute later. After a back and forth second half the Bengals found themselves down 49-48 with 21 seconds left. On that possession with one second left on the shot clock, Austin Smellie was fouled where he hit 1-2 to tie the game at 49. In the final possession of regulation the Hornets drove to the basket and were unable to get the ball to fall. In overtime, the Hornets gained a one point lead at 56-55 after a bucket and a foul with nine seconds left. On the ensuing possession Ford drove quickly to the basket and was fouled with his shot rimming out. Ford III converted both free throws and a Hornet miss from long range gave the Bengals yet another win in thrilling fashion. The win brings ISU a 4-1 record in Big Sky play and a 7-5 record overall. The Bengals will [returned] to Reed Gym [18 January 2021] to play Sacramento
Featured: Robert Ford III Photo Courtesy of Idaho State Athletics
Page 5 • 20 January 2021
The Bengal at Idaho State University
LIFE
Kaitlyn Hart | Life Editor Contact: bglife@isu.edu
Local Club Reaching to Keep Sustainability on Campus Chloe Reid Reporter There is no doubt that environmental change has become more visible than ever within the past few decades. Headline after headline seems to capture the consistent troubles of heatwaves, man-made fires, trash accumulating in unthinkable amounts and animals dying due to toxic environments. Throughout the years, sustainability has become more prevalent in our daily lives in an attempt to combat these current issues. From reusable bags at grocery stores, reusable water bottles, composting and the newer implementation of zero-waste grocery stores where glass jars and reusable bags are used to purchase bulk items rather than buying items with packaging. For a certain group of Idaho State University students, sustainability has become a much more recognizable problem, as they work to increase it amongst the Idaho State student body as well as the general Pocatello/Chubbuck population. Known as the Sustainability Club on campus, their mission statement states, “We work to establish and strengthen campus environmental consciousness and community among faculty, staff and students. The purpose of this club is to promote sustainability across the Idaho State University campus and the Pocatello/Chubbuck community.” For anyone who has a passion for environmental change, or wants to contribute to helping the planet, the Sustainability Club could be a perfect match for you. No matter how big or small the change, the club strongly believes even the smallest amount of progress can make a big difference. Even if it’s just to the Pocatello/Chubbuck area, the club believes that even such a small area has the potential to make an impact. Eizaak Jordan, the current president of the club, stated, “The Sustainability Club was started because there’s a limited venue to engage in environmental action on campus. I joined the club because I’ve had a lifelong passion for the environment and there’s a drought of environmental activism in the state. It’s important that we
have voices going against the forces that are taking a toll on the environment, and I wanted to be a small part of that.” Linda Eagle, one of the founding advisors in the club, stated, “Local action serves as the bedrock for addressing all environmental challenges; we aim to be a conduit for sustainability in our corner of the world.” No matter what your idea for sustainability on campus is, the Sustainability Club has you covered. Despite whatever major or background you may have, being environmentally friendly is something that can fit into anyone’s schedule, and the club is welcome to new ideas. For anyone who is unsure of what to do, the club has several ideas in mind they hope to achieve in the coming years. “There are a great variety of topics our members are interested in. These include but are not limited to lobbying Congress for the climate, creating environmental workshops, composting at ISU, reducing plastic waste, creating a pollinator and food garden and lots more,” said Eagle. The idea for the Sustainability Club was created and founded in 2018 by a few students who had a passion for change in their local environment, and after an idea was pitched, it was made an official Idaho State University club in January of 2020. Since June 2020, the club has had a recognizable amount of growth. Jordan is currently working with the Political Science Club to create a spring environmental forum, and the club has partnered with KISU to create a radio segment called Sustainable Idaho. According to KISU’s website, “Sustainable Idaho explores why aspects of sustainability matters to Idahoans.” Every Tuesday at 7:35 a.m., the radio station broadcasts a variety of topics, such as the 3 pillars of sustainability; economic, social and environmental, as well as topics such as climate, water, energy and agriculture. If you’re interested in broadening your impact on the environment around you, wanting to learn more about sustainability, or wanting the support to create sustainable projects of your own, you can contact Jordan at jordeiza@isu.edu for meeting times and more information.
Featured: Logan Ramsey, Jaylan Aliev, Kadee Jo Callister, Maggie Price, Eizaak Jordan, and Felix Lovelace Photo Courtesy of Eizaak Jordan
Photo Courtesy of CSUN Today
The Bengal at Idaho State University
20 January 2021 • Page 6
LIFE
Kaitlyn Hart | Life Editor Contact: bglife@isu.edu
A Biased Review of Taylor Swift’s “Folklore”
Photo Courtesy of Yahoo Kaitlyn Hart Life Editor I should not be writing this article and that is just the honest truth. I am physically incapable of speaking negatively about Taylor Swift, so this won’t be a fair review, and I’m going to start with that. If you’re looking for an actual musical critique, don’t continue reading because this is just going to be an entire article praising every song on Taylor Swift’s first surprise album, “Folklore” that was released during the Coronavirus pandemic. Swift also released a second surprise album during the pandemic titled,
“Evermore”, but due to word count restraints, we will only be talking about “Folklore” today. Now that we have an understanding, let’s talk about this musical genius! I assume as a late birthday present to me, “Folklore” was released completely out of the blue on July 24th, 2020. Much different than her previous albums, “Folklore” has a very dark “cottagecore” vibe. I imagine it would be perfect to listen to whilst mournfully gazing out the window of a cabin in the middle of the woods while you daydream about your long-lost lover. The album starts off with “the 1”, a brisk and catchy track about reminiscing about the highs of a past love, coping with
being alone and moving on through the toughest parts of a breakup. This song is reminiscent of previous Swift songs that describe her disappointment in the actions of a significant other, examples being “The Moment I Knew” and “Death by A Thousand Cuts”. “Folklore” is the first of Taylor’s albums to include a running story. The songs “Cardigan”, “August”, and “Betty” tell the story of a teenage love triangle including James, Betty and an unnamed “other woman” (Quick side note, James, Betty, and a side character in the trilogy, Inez, are all the names of the children of Taylor Swift’s close friends, Ryan Reynolds and Blake Lively!). “Cardigan”, written from the
Photo Courtesy of Wiki Commons
perspective of the character Betty, looks back on her time spent with a past lover, who we later will find out is named James. Betty is wistfully remembering the times they spent together when they were young and reminiscing on what could have been. Listeners soon learn that James betrayed Betty in some way, hearing the lyrics, “‘Cause I knew everything when I was young. I knew I’d curse you for the longest time.” “August”, written from a very unconventional perspective, tells the story from the other woman’s perspective. Long nights splayed out on the beach together, yet knowing that James was never hers to keep. We learn through the lyrics, “To live for the hope of it all, cancel plans just in case you’d call,” that this woman is looking back from an older perspective, realizing her naivety and just how badly she wanted to spend time with James, knowing that it was wrong. We then learn that this whirlwind romance lasted for only one month, hearing, ‘August slipped away like a moment in time. ‘Cuz you were never mine.” “Betty”, my personal favorite of the trilogy, is written from the perspective of James, the so-far proclaimed “player” and heartthrob of the story. James details the story from beginning to finish, giving the listeners a sense of closure and understanding of the situation Swift sings about. James confesses that he spent the month of August with another woman and feels immense guilt for what he feels that he did to Betty. “The worst thing that I ever did was what I did to you.” He goes on to ask her what would happen if she tried to make amends. “But if I just showed up at your party, would you have me? Would you want me? Would you tell me to go f*** myself, or lead me to the garden?” As he explains his side of the story, the listeners get to hear from his perspective how and why he made this mistake, eventually listening to the end of the song in which James details showing up at Betty’s door to beg for forgiveness. “Betty, I’m here on your doorstep and I planned it out for weeks now, but it’s finally sinking in.” The storytelling that Swift is capable of producing through both the musical aspect of the songs and the lyrical structure is absolutely astounding. But I’m not about to spoil the ending, so to find out, you’re gonna have to go listen for yourself. Get her those streams she deserves.
Page 7 • 20 January 2021
The Bengal at Idaho State University
Kaitlyn Hart | Life Editor Contact: bglife@isu.edu
Looking Forward to a New World Lesley Brey Reporter You’re on a road trip, it’s day two of constant driving, your parents have been fighting for the last 80 miles, the air conditioning broke before the trip even started, you’re nauseous, hungry and the radio only picks up mariachi stations because you’re in the middle of Nebraska or at least what you think is Nebraska. Look, there’s a lot of corn. Anyway, it is at this point of absolute exhaustion, frustration and disillusion that your extremely annoying younger brother opens his mouth and proclaims, chest out, “Are we there yet?” Dear readers, we may be in Nebraska metaphorically, but the good news is that soon we will be crossing state lines; the end of the pandemic is in sight. As vaccine administration kicks up a notch, soon more and more people will be safe from this plague. For many of us, it will be months before we are eligible to receive our doses, but just like the first flowers of spring poking through the melting snow, hope has arrived. This week I reached out to students all over the Idaho State University Pocatello Campus to discover what they’re most excited about doing once COVID-19 has been contained. I found that there were three things on everyone’s mind; friends, travel and school. “[I want to] be able to hang out with friends,” said Faith Blomquist, an ISU junior studying sign language interpretation. Throughout our worst moments in history, humans have gained strength by banding together with our fellow man and facing our tragedies head-on. COVID-19 challenged us in the most excruciating way by preventing us from seeking comfort in one another. Still, we endured. We limited our social circle. We postponed family gatherings. We did what is most against our nature for the safety of strangers. With the light at the end of the tunnel, surely all of us are looking forward to reconnecting with our friends.
“To hang out with friends, like every weekend, just hanging out with different people. Right now I can’t really do that, which sucks, cause I have a lot of different types of friends that I like to hang out with,” said Anna Jirik, an ISU sophomore studying biology. “I want to be able to hang out with my friends more. I’ve been able to do that kind of, but you know it’s always been spaced apart. I want to have big groups of people again, instead of just three or four [people]. To just be able to go out and not have to worry about masks or how many people there are; like it was before!” said Justin Lance, an ISU freshman studying nuclear engineering. Students were also excited at the prospect of travel. Whether it’s part of an adventure or just a reunion with family, (although I would argue that interacting with extended family is also adventurous) students have stayed strong through this adversity by planning their trips and biding their time. Even for introverts and homebodies, many of us didn’t realize how nice the ability to travel was until we were forced to give it up. “I want to travel. I want to get out of Idaho!” said Rebecca Moyle, an ISU sophomore studying social work. “What I want to do, once COVID-19 is over is I want to travel a little bit cause we haven’t really been able to do that and to not have to wear a mask anymore,” said Ashley Rumble, an ISU technical program student studying pipe welding and fitting. “My brother got married in May, and it was awesome. It was a beautiful wedding even though it was weird. We had to have less than 20 people, so it was super restricted. I’m looking forward to when we can redo the ceremony and have the reception, with all the guests,” said Lynnea Dale, an ISU junior studying management and accounting. For many students, COVID-19 has not only prevented them from doing what they want to do, but it has also radically changed their college experience. Many freshmen didn’t have the opportunity to have a high school graduation, and now
their first experience of the campus is when it’s at its most quiet and demure. In a way, it feels like a perpetual winter break; no games, no on-campus food, no clubs and no students. Many students are looking forward to when campus can return to normal. “[I want to] be in larger groups, getting the social aspect of college because I’m a freshman, and I’ve never really experienced, you know, what college life is like. I think that hanging out with more people, getting to know people outside of the sports world would be really awesome once COVID-19 is over,” said Aisley Allen, an ISU freshman soccer player who is studying exercise science. “I would very much enjoy being able to go back outside, do some more fun stuff. Really, just not having to wear a mask everywhere, and see a lot more of the campus open up, do more with clubs,” said Caiden Ash, an ISU technical program
LIFE
student studying airplane mechanics. “I want to keep going to school, maybe get a job. I’m looking forward to not having to wear masks all the time,” said Kobe Sittig, an ISU sophomore studying exercise science. “What I’d like to do the most is go back to football games and big group events, sporting events. I think that’s really what I’m just missing in this college experience,” said John Swatzk, an ISU freshman studying nursing. For me personally? I have often reflected on what I want to do once life has returned to normal. Going out to bars is pretty close to the top of my list, but I’m also looking forward to traveling across the country (in a plane, not a car) to visit my grandmother in Michigan who I haven’t seen since December 2018. I’m looking forward to concerts, to eating out, to those large and sweaty summer crowds I once despised. I’m looking forward to being human.
Photo Courtesy of Idaho State University
The Bengal at Idaho State University
20 January 2021 • Page 8
OPINION
Jacob Gutridge | Editor-in-Chief Contact: bgchief@isu.edu
How to Handle a Headache
Photo Courtesy of Pixabay Kyran Cates Reporter Students and staff alike can agree on one thing: life is a headache just waiting to happen. A headache can start subtly, a mere pinch behind the eyes, but over the span of a few hours it can grow into a debilitating throbbing throughout one’s entire head. Whether mild or severe, nearly everyone has felt the pain and discomfort a headache can cause. While some headache disorders are only manageable through medical diagnosis and assistance, there are numerous methods of prevention and at-home treatment for everyday headaches. Headaches often have a source, ranging from dehydration all the way to family members with piercingly loud voices, and it’s important to understand that headache triggers vary from person to person. By identifying headache triggers, it becomes easier to avoid them or anticipate when a headache may occur. Does your neck feel tense after a long night awake? Do your eyes burn after a day of staring at screens? Take the time to note jarring stimuli leading up to a headache. Bright lights, strong smells, loud noises and high stress can all add up to a world of hurt. Unless you work to avoid or lessen exposure to headache triggers, the pain is likely to return repeatedly. Once a headache has taken root, there is little that can be done to reverse the cause of the pain. For example, a headache induced by dehydration will not be resolved by gulping down 40 ounces of water. While taking care of your body is vital to preventing headaches, once the damage is done,
you can’t backpedal the pain away. Headaches are caused by the relaxing of previously constricted blood vessels or the other way around. This change in blood pressure is felt significantly in muscles and nerve endings of the head, face, and neck, thus explaining the throbbing pain often associated with headaches and migraines. As the pain stems from your blood vessels, there is little you can do to immediately relieve the aching. Because of their commonality, it’s important to know how to manage a headache at home; if you experience chronic headaches, which occur 15 days or more per month, you should seek assistance from a medical professional. Before anything else, Mayo Clinic recommends non-prescription pain relief medication, such as ibuprofen, acetaminophen or aspirin. Make sure to take only the recommended dose and follow all safety instructions included with the products. If those medications don’t meet your needs, Excedrin Migraine is a stronger alternative. Additionally, sleep is known as a natural pain reliever. In many mild cases, a quick nap or a good night’s rest will alleviate the effects of a headache. That being said, it can be difficult to fall asleep with a throbbing pain in your head. Melatonin sleep supplements are a great way to bypass this discomfort and fall sound asleep. In addition to medication, there are several ways to treat and manage the pain of a headache. Most importantly, rest in a dark and quiet room. Removing the triggers that cause headaches from your environment will help ensure the pain isn’t worsened or prolonged. Next, Mayo Clinic recommends hot or cold compress to your neck or head.
Letters to the Editor
This will help relieve soreness and numb the area, as well as constrict or dilate the blood vessels. Headaches are often a sign that something is wrong in your body or your envi-
ronment. Listen to what your headaches are telling you, and use it to take better care of yourself. Reduce your stress, exercise more, improve your diet and your body will thank you with fewer headaches.
Photo Courtesy of Healthline
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