If you suffer from a chronic headache condition, then you would probably find it beneficial to know when the next episode was going to strike. That could help you to plan your work and social calendars with minimal interference. Unfortunately, that isn’t the way most headache conditions operate. The next attack probably seems to come out of the blue and at the worst possible moment.
But what if there was a way to have a better idea about when the next head pain would occur? Better yet, what if you could prevent it from happening? We’re going to take a look into headache triggers that may help you to understand your condition better. Then we will address a natural therapy that has helped dozens of patients in case studies to find lasting relief.
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If you suffer from head pains on a regular basis, one of the first things a physician might suggest is keeping a headache journal. This can allow you to track your triggers. Some triggers are unavoidable but will at least give you some ability to foresee your attacks. Other triggers can be avoided and may help you to reduce how often your headaches occur. Here are some of the more common headache triggers.
Stress really does a number on the body’s immune system. It is no wonder then that stress is at the top of most lists of triggers. When it comes to head pains, fluctuations in the levels of stress hormones may come into play. That means that not only can stress trigger a headache right then, but it also has the ability to trigger a headache during the letdown phase after the stressful situation ends and stress hormone levels suddenly bottom out. In other words, stress may not only result in head pains that plague you at the office but also when you finally get some downtime on the weekend.
This is a tricky one because many of the medications that increase headache frequency are the very pills we take to stop a headache from hurting so much. The key is to use such medications sparingly. There is nothing wrong with taking a few pain relievers on Monday to keep a headache at bay while you work, but if you have to do it 5 days a week, half of your headaches may be rebound headaches from medication overuse. Especially if you used to get your headaches less frequently and they gradually became chronic, this may be your issue. The only way to know for sure is to get off of the over-the-counter pain pills and see if your headaches become less frequent.
There are plenty of regular lifestyle activities that can contribute to head pain occurrence. For example, failing to get enough sleep at night can trigger a headache during the day. So having a regular sleep schedule is important if you get headaches. The same is true when it comes to eating. If you are too busy to take a break for lunch today, you may have too bad of a headache to get out of bed at all tomorrow. Hydration is equally important. Headaches can be an early indicator that your body is lacking sufficient fluids. Bad habits like smoking or alcohol abuse can also increase the frequency of headaches. A little caffeine can improve blood flow and help with headaches, but too much caffeine can be a headache trigger. As with so many other things in life, balance and moderation are key. Avoiding foods that you have an allergy or sensitivity too is also important.
Changes in weather are the most difficult triggers to avoid, but at least you can check the forecast for the next day or two and have a pretty good idea as to how you will fare. Watch for things like sudden changes in barometric pressure, temperature, and humidity. Nearby lightning strikes have been particularly recognized as a migraine headache trigger.
Now you have a few possible predictors of your next headache and a few things to avoid for reducing the frequency with which they occur. But is there a natural way to reduce the frequency and severity of headaches and maybe even eliminate them completely? We’d like to introduce you to upper cervical chiropractic care.
The upper cervical spine is related to many factors that are seen as underlying headache influences. For example, a misaligned neck can affect blood flow to the brain. Also, since the atlas (C1) surrounds the brainstem, even a slight misalignment may affect brainstem function. Finally, upper cervical subluxations are related to restricted drainage of cerebrospinal fluid. This, in turn, can increase intracranial pressure.
Upper cervical chiropractic focuses specifically on misalignments of the top two bones of the neck. Rather than popping or twisting the spine, safe and gentle adjustments are used. These as-needed adjustments are both fast acting and long lasting to ensure that your body has the time it needs to heal from the damage that may have been caused by a long-time misalignment.
If you are suffering from chronic headaches, especially if you have a history of head or neck trauma, it is time to learn what upper cervical chiropractic care can do for you. To see if this is the solution to your health concerns, schedule a consultation with a practitioner in your area today.
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TV show host Montel Williams describes how specific chiropractic care has helped his body.
The content and materials provided in this web site are for informational and educational purposes only and are not intended to supplement or comprise a medical diagnosis or other professional opinion, or to be used in lieu of a consultation with a physician or competent health care professional for medical diagnosis and/or treatment. All content and materials including research papers, case studies and testimonials summarizing patients' responses to care are intended for educational purposes only and do not imply a guarantee of benefit. Individual results may vary, depending upon several factors including age of the patient, severity of the condition, severity of the spinal injury, and duration of time the condition has been present.
