Headaches are becoming increasingly common and we are often guilty of taking some painkillers and ignoring the problem. Headaches can take different forms such as migraines or tension headaches, and these can greatly impact quality of life.
Tension-type headaches are the most common with 37% of women and 21% of men experiencing them regularly.
Headaches can be caused by various reasons, including but not limited to, poor posture, stress, sleeping patterns and poor nutrition.
Get enough sleep
Adequate sleep is a key part of a healthy lifestyle. Getting enough sleep plays an important role in your physical, mental and emotional health.
Fix your sleeping posture
An awkward sleeping position affects the alignment of your spine and can cause stiffness in the morning. Avoid sleeping on your stomach and try to sleep on your back or side instead, to maintain the natural curves of the spine.
Be mindful of your posture
Whether it’s during your commute or at the office, maintaining a good posture is very important for spinal health.
Improve your nutrition
Fasting, eating high-sugar foods, dieting too rigorously, and skipping meals can all trigger, or make people more likely to have a headache or migraine. Even delayed or irregular meals can make a difference. This can be due to people’s blood-glucose levels falling too low.
Drive Smart
If you drive regularly, adjust your seat to make sure that you are not straining any part of your body. Move the seat closer to the steering wheel to support the curve of your back.
How chiropractic care can help
Chiropractors regularly diagnose, care for and help manage headaches. Many studies have reported on the effectiveness of chiropractic care in alleviating migraine pain and other health issues that arise from neck and back issues.
An Australian study published in the Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics demonstrated the effectiveness of chiropractic care in treating migraine pain.
The Macquarie University study analysed the responses of 127 volunteers who suffered from migraines aged from 10 to 70 years. The researchers found that more than 80% of people who were provided with chiropractic care reported an improvement in migraines.
Sources 9. Tuchin PJ1, Pollard H, Bonello R., 2000, A randomized controlled trial of chiropractic spinal manipulative therapy for migraine, J Manipulative Physiol Ther. 2000 Feb;23(2):91-5 (images: freepik)