3 Tips to Preventing Headaches and Migraines
Headaches affect almost 50 percent of the population at least once annually, finding a way to relieve them is important when it comes to improving quality of life for a large number of people. Certainly there are several different types of headaches–migraines, cluster headaches, and medication-overuse headaches, for instance–and each one requires a unique approach for treatment.
According to the Cleveland Clinic,tension headaches, also commonly referred to as stress headaches, are headaches which affect anywhere from 30 to 80 percent of sufferers. They are signified by their mild-to-moderate pain that spreads across the entire head in a sort of band. This makes them very different than migraines which are usually felt on one side or the other.
What Can you do:
- Water: Make sure your daily water intake is adequate. Most people have heard drink 8 cups of water each day, but this may vary depending on your activity level.
- Head Position: Watch the positioning of your head. Anterior head carriage or slouching forward and having your head in a forward position can increase strain on the muscles of the cervical spine in the neck. If your posture has been bad for a long period of time, this may be contributing to different pain issues and should be looked at by a chiropractor.
- Vitamins: Magnesium and B2 (Riboflavin). According to the NIH, 400 mg per day of B2 is significantly beneficial and completely safe for headache and migraine sufferers. For people suffering from migraines resulting from high blood pressure, magnesium can be exceedingly helpful. Take 400 mg of Magnesiums one to two times daily.
If the headaches persist, it’s time to see a Chiropractor. The most common causes of a headache or migraine is misaligned bones in the upper neck that cause pressure and inflammation in the joints and strain the muscles. A specific spinal adjustment, using Torque Release Technique can correct the misalignment, remove pressure and allow the body to heal. Call Cornerstone Chiropractic Clinic at 651-207-6182 for a complimentary consultation. One of our Woodbury Chiropractors will help you determine the cause of the problem.