Oh, My Head!

Headaches can range from mildly annoying to debilitatingly painful.  They may come on subtly and slowly or strike lightning fast out of nowhere. No matter what type of headache you have, it’s never a pleasant or welcome experience. Ending the pain becomes the number one priority in order to get on with life.

The first step is to observe and note what is triggering the headache response for you. Keeping a headache journal can help you to notice patterns and identify what could be causing your pain.

Some common headache triggers

Physical problems are responsible for 5% of headache cases. Physical stressors include foods your body isn’t reacting well to – be it a sensitivity or allergy, environmental stimuli such as light, noise, or stress, behavioral problems including excessive exercise, blood sugar regulation problems, or insomnia.

In 95% of headache cases, the headache itself is the primary concern. This includes cases of migraine, tension headaches, cluster headaches, and some lesser-seen or known disorders. These types of headaches can be sourced often to muscle tension held in the neck. They can be brought on by leading a sedentary fixed position lifestyle exacerbated further by poor posture which increases joint irritation and muscle tension in the neck, upper back, and scalp. It can cause headaches.

Tips to help prevent the onset of headaches

Stay hydrated – drink at least eight 8-ounce glasses of water daily. If you drink caffeinated beverages, they count as a negative because caffeine is dehydrating. So, if you drink 1 cup of coffee not only does that not count towards water consumption, you also need 1 additional cup of water to make up for it. If you consume soda or coffee regularly it could be a headache source due to dehydration as well as the constriction of capillaries.

Stretch! – Movement counts so get up and stretch every 30 minutes. Stop what you are doing and get up and move.

Keep your jaw lax – Avoid jaw clenching even if you are stressed. Pay attention to how your face feels and consciously relax the jaw.

Regular Chiropractic Visits and Adjustments –   Chiropractic treatment has been highly successful in treating and eliminating headache pain.

Exercise – Low impact exercise and cardiovascular pumping help keep your cardiovascular system healthy and strong. It can have a major impact on your propensity to get headaches, especially as you age.

If you are having frequent reoccurring headache pain, we cordially invite you to come to see us at Kaster Chiropractic.

www.Kasterchiropractic.com
239-332-2555