How to Beat Headaches: Prevention Tips
Did you know that 50-75% of adults experience at least one headache each year? Among those, roughly 30% have reported migraines. And as many as 4% of the world’s population are afflicted with headaches for 15 or more days every single month. And worse yet, most people assume they need to live with them and/or manage them with drugs. Although headaches are common, they are never normal – and we can help!
While most people focus on treating headaches after they happen, we’d like to offer some preventative tips to help you stop headaches from starting in the first place. We’ve helped many patients overcome headaches and migraines naturally through focused and gentle chiropractic care. In fact, 75% of headaches are due to neck issues, even if you don’t have actual neck pain. A healthy cervical spine is critical in preventing headaches as it corrects the cause in the majority of cases. In addition to this, there can be many other triggers that don’t help the situation. Many of these triggers are avoidable. Here are a few tips for beating some of the most common types of headaches…
Cluster headaches: One of the most painful types of headaches, a cluster headache is typically felt on one side of the head near the eyes and lasts anywhere between 30 – 90 minutes on average. If you’re prone to cluster headaches, potential triggers may include bright lights, foods with nitrates like deli meats, a sudden altitude change, and alcohol or smoking. Try avoiding these triggers to see if your headaches improve.
Tension headaches: This type of headache doesn’t always throb, but instead feels like tightness or tenderness in the head and neck. To prevent a tension headache, take note of what you did just before the headache occurred. Did you have sustained poor posture, do an awkward repetitive motion, sleep in a funky position, or do a new physical activity your body isn’t used to? Sometimes, even stress is a trigger, so practicing mindfulness or breathing exercises regularly may help.
Migraine headaches: Most research around migraine headaches points to environmental triggers, hormones, and genetics as the main culprits. Making sure you stay well-hydrated, avoid foods high in salt, and stick to a regular sleep schedule may help lessen their frequency. Other triggers may include bright fluorescent lights, too much screen time and strong smells.
Get Help Today
Suffer from headaches? We’re here for you. Contact our team today to book an appointment and put head pain behind you.