Headache Pain Relief

You wake up with a dull headache, but you’re hoping that it’s just the way you slept.  You hop in the shower, but by the end it becomes a throbbing headache.  You take a couple of pain
pills hoping that they will get you through the day, but by 10am you have to take a few more.  For some, this scenario is a weekly event, but for others, it’s even more often.   Though headaches are quite common (90% of adults have reoccurring headaches), they are always a sign that something is wrong.

It is estimated that Americans seeking headache pain relief through over-the-counter pain medication spend over $4 billion on pain relievers each year. Unfortunately, many of these pain relief pills don’t deliver, leaving behind a wake of headache sufferers still in pain.

Headache Triggers to Watch Out For | Headache Prevention

There are two main types of headaches: tension headaches and migraine headaches. Some headache triggers are more obvious than others.  Keep these tips in mind the next time you experience a headache.  There may be more you could do to prevent them.

• Your Boss – Yep.  It’s not just a joke.  If your boss stresses you out, it could leave you more susceptible to tension headaches.
• Bad Posture – You don’t have to do any heavy lifting to build up pressure in the head and neck muscles.  Pushing your head forward to see the computer screen or arching your back will do the trick, too.  Look at your workspace.  Position your screen at eye level and your keyboard so that your arms bend at a 90 degree angle.
• Deli Ham and Red Wine – Sorry.  Processed meats and red wine often contain tyramine, and some meats contain harmful nitrates that can sometimes trigger a headache.
• An Empty Stomach – Skipping that lunch break might help you meet a deadline, but the drop in your blood sugar could trigger a headache.   Don’t try to keep your motor running with sweets, though.  That piece of chocolate can cause a sudden increase in your blood sugar followed by an even lower drop.
• Second Hand Smoke – Spending a significant amount of time near someone who is smoking exposes your brain to nicotine, causing your brain’s blood vessels to narrow.  When your heart can’t pump enough blood through to the brain, it causes pressure to build up.  The result?  You guessed it: a headache.
• Tight Ponytails – You read that right.  Tight hair accessories pull on the connective tissue in your scalp.  This includes headbands, hats and even sunglasses that push on the sides of your head.  If you feel a headache coming on, it might be time to let down your hair.
• Dehydration – Similar to an empty stomach, not drinking enough water can result in headaches.  Keep a glass next to your desk and sip it throughout the day.  A straw may help more than you think.

By identifying your headache triggers, you can take steps to prevent future headaches.  Keep a pain journal and write down when your headaches occur.  Think about what you were eating or doing around the time of each headache.

Common Headache Symptoms

Pain anywhere on the head or neck area can be a symptom of a headache.

• Pain behind one or both eyes
• Pain above or on the eyebrows
• Pain below the eyes
• Pain along the back of the head or top of the neck
• Pain around the jaw or ears
• Pain behind the temples
• Nausea or vomiting
• Dizziness

Headache Pain Relief Options

Chiropractic Checkup – Through a chiropractic exam and evaluation, a chiropractor can determine the condition of your spine and joints in your head and neck.  By freeing up areas in your neck that are not moving correctly, chiropractic adjustments restore normal motion and eliminate the swelling in your joints that often causes headaches.

Stretching – Neck exercises can often provide some headache pain relief by stretching and moving the muscles and ligaments in the neck.  Be sure to do each exercise correctly to avoid any further injury.

Avoid Your Triggers – What triggers a headache on one person may not be a problem for someone else.  By keeping track of what triggers your headache, especially if it’s food or environment-related, you may be able to find headache pain relief simply through elimination.

Remember, headaches are your body’s way of telling you that something is wrong.  If you can uncover the cause and not just treat the symptoms, you’ll wake up refreshed and ready to take on whatever challenges and adventures each day brings.

The 11 Olathe Chiropractors at Fulk Chiropractic specialize in headache pain relief.  They work closely with local medical doctors and physical therapists to clearly identify the cause.  Through headache treatment and prevention, they have helped thousands of headache patients eliminate pain and transform their quality of life.

To learn more about how chiropractic may help with your specific condition schedule an appointment online, and mention this post to receive a complementary physical and neurological exam with one of our qualified doctors.