7 Ways To Avoid The Pain Of Headaches

Headaches are common for many people, and often they recur too frequently for the sufferer. A variety of prescription and over-the-counter drugs may help control headaches, but they only mask the pain without addressing the cause.

Headache medications may also have side effects, especially with long term use. Hoping to find a more natural and holistic solution to chronic headaches, many people turn to chiropractic.

What is a headache?

A headache may occur because of muscular tension, sinus congestion, eyestrain and many other underlying causes. For many people they can start over the eyes, in the back of the head, on the sides or top of the head, or feel centred behind the eyes.

The one thing all headaches have in common is they hurt, and sometimes they hurt a lot. The amount of pain associated with a headache may range from a mild ache to a throbbing, nauseating, relentless pain.

The three types of common headache are:

1. Tension headaches
2. Migraines; and
3. Cervicogenic headaches.

Most people seek chiropractic relief from cervicogenic headaches. Cervicogenic headaches are caused by pain referring to the head from the bony or soft tissues of the neck.

How can chiropractic help headaches?

Chiropractic can play an important role in easing cervicogenic and other headaches through manipulation and adjustments of the spine and neck - often reducing or preventing the headache.

Chiropractic adjustments help in releasing muscular tension, improving blood flow and realigning the skeleton to break the cycle of pain. Often patients with chronic headaches will find relief through chiropractic in just a few treatments, as muscles relax and nerve irritation is reduced.

7 Tips to avoid headaches

I often recommend exercising, stretching and changing posture, or teaching relaxation techniques to reduce or avoid headaches. For preventive care, here are seven tips to avoid getting headaches:

1. If you watch television or use your computer make sure the room is well lit.
2. Keep your teeth in good shape - holes or other dental issues can lead to repeating headaches.
3. Watch what you eat... cut down on chocolate, cheese and ice cream, and avoid cold fizzy drinks.
4. Reduce your stress levels as tension leads to strain and pain.
5. Exercise daily. Some yoga or a brisk walk will help keep you feeling good.
6. Drink at least 1.5 litres of water or other healthy fluids a day to ensure you don't dehydrate.
7. If you are a desk worker, make sure your desk is set up correctly and take regular breaks to stretch.

If you have any family or friends suffering from headaches they should seek help from a chiropractor to determine the cause of the problem, or follow the tips above and see if that solves the problem.

When Dr Belinda Owen was 14 she knew she wanted to become a chiropractor. After visiting a family chiropractor she became hooked on the philosophy and power of chiropractic.cDr Owen has been in practice for more than 15 years and runs a business in Elwood, Melbourne. She practices gentle techniques such as SOT, Activator, Cranial and is Webster certified. For more health tips and advice visithttp://passionchiropractic.com.au/health/

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