How To Prevent Headaches: A Chiropractor’s Guide
Do you immediately take painkillers from the cabinet when a headache arises or is ongoing? Perhaps investigating root causes might be better than constantly resorting to medication if headaches occur frequently. There are many causes for headaches, so medications may not always alleviate them.
As chiropractors, we believe that there may be a more natural way to heal headaches instead of reaching for pain medication.
What Causes Headaches?
Headaches are not only an annoyance but they happen for a reason, signalling that something isn’t right in the body – but it’s not always clear what that might be. If you’ve had a heavy night of drinking or smoking and are experiencing a headache the following day, it’s very likely that last night’s festivities are the cause. Eye strain, a poor diet, excessive noise, air quality and a number of other factors can also contribute to headaches.
In other cases however, a chiropractor for headaches will recognise that a headache can be connected to muscle tension and irritation of the joints/muscles and ligaments of the neck caused by misaligned vertebrae. These vertebral misalignments can be caused from poor posture, trauma such as a car crash or sports accident, tech neck and chronic stress.
What Can I Do To Prevent Headaches?
Other than taking pain relief medication, there are a few things you can do to prevent headaches.
Avoid Triggers For Your Headaches
If you’re the sort to get a headache in bright light, around certain smells, after drinking or any other situation you can pin down, be sure to avoid these triggers for your wellbeing. If you’re not entirely sure what is setting off your headaches, consider keeping a diary – and when you next get a headache, take note of when it started, what you were doing and how long it lasted.
Get Plenty of Sleep
There’s no questioning just how important sleep is to our health. Sleep affects almost every tissue of our body, which in turn affects growth and stress hormones, our immune system, appetite, breathing, blood pressure and cardiovascular health. Getting an appropriate amount of sleep can also help when it comes to headaches, so be sure to get around eight hours of sleep each night, and visit your doctor if you experience sleep disturbances such as sleep apnea or snoring.
Eat Regularly And Healthily
As busy as your day may be, try to heat healthy meals around the same time each day. Avoiding foods that trigger headaches, such as those that contain caffeine – coffee, energy drinks and so on – can also be beneficial.
Reduce Stress
This may be easier said than done for some people, but there’s no doubt that stress is a common trigger of chronic headaches. Try to keep positive, get into a routine, exercise, or try relaxation techniques such as yoga or meditation. Good friends and a healthy social life can also go a long way towards reducing stress.
How Can A Chiropractor Help?
A chiropractor for headaches will access any musculoskeletal issues that may be causing your headache. This includes any issues with your nerves, muscles, and bones. Your chiropractor will then determine whether their treatment will be useful when it comes to alleviating your symptoms by performing a spinal examination. This can help identify if your vertebrae are misaligned (which can lead to headaches, as we mentioned previously).
Treatment by a chiropractor for headaches can help to alleviate tension of the neck and head, which can also contribute to headaches. Some specific spinal adjustments can often offer relief quickly for those suffering from headaches.
Since every body unique, your chiropractor for headaches should provide a tailored treatment plan to help address your specific issues.
Choose Dynamic Chiropractic For Your Chiropractor For Headaches
Miki and Rob at Dynamic Chiropractic are well-versed in assisting patients with headaches and migraines. Our Brisbane chiropractor office is ready to take your appointment and help you be comfortable once more. Call us today or conveniently make a booking online.
