Headaches or cephalgia can be quite debilitating, from migraines to tension headaches. They come in many forms and there is no such thing as a normal headache. What I mean by this is, headaches are a common problem but it is still a problem. Any type of pain in the body is a warning sign for dysfunction. Pain is a way for your body to let you know something is wrong. So when you experience a headaches, as many do, don’t brush it off.
Most headache sufferers turn to over-the-counter headache medication like aspirin or acetaminophen (Tylenol), but these medications often fail to give long-term relief and may lead to the normalizing of ingesting drugs. Some common side-effects of over-the-counter pain relief include nausea and vomiting, liver damage, and increased blood pressure.
It is often suggested that headache sufferers take headache-specific vitamins such as Coenzyme Q10, Magnesium, and Riboflavin because of their roles in metabolism and energy supply in the body. Dehydration is a common cause of headaches, so headache sufferers should keep hydrated by drinking plenty of fluids.
Dr. Sebastian Colon from Midtown Clinic of Chiropractic Lake Worth says “Most patients that drink two large glasses of water when they feel a headache coming feel relief and it helps to rule out dehydration-related headaches as well”.
Another common reason for persistent headaches is eyesight. Patients with vision problems such as blurred or double vision may find that headache relief is achieved after they get their eyes checked and acquire proper eyeglasses. Without a doubt, the most common headache relief comes from relaxation and sleep. Napping and getting restorative slumber at night can often rid you of your headache pain. This is especially effective with sight-related and posture-related cephalgia.
Dr. Francisco Colón from our West Palm Beach chiropractic location points out that: “Headaches that sometimes get worse with laying down can be related to sinus infections and swelling”.
According to The Mayo Clinic, sinus headache symptoms include headache pain, headache with fever, headache with a stuffy nose, or headache worsened by bending over. An easy way to check if you have a sinus headache is to feel around the cheekbones and nose feeling for swelling and tenderness. Cervicogenic headaches or those that are caused by neck issues.
Why do my headaches get worse at work? Cervicogenic headaches usually do and are very susceptible to poor posture. These headaches originate from tension or pinching that is related to neck issues. Neck arthritis, pinched nerves, bad posture, and muscle spasm are some of the most common reasons for these types of headaches. In a clinical setting, we find that many patients have lost proper spinal alignment due to old trauma or persistent slouching. Try correcting your posture habits. Chiropractic care and lifestyle guidance can significantly help with the diagnosing and correction of most of these issues. In fact, chiropractors are commonly sought out for headache relief and management.
Try the tips above in order to manage your headaches at home before seeking medications out of the medicine cabinet. Any headache that is excruciating with a sudden onset should be a cause of concern. It is important to be aware of F.A.S.T an acronym for signs of stroke.
F=face drooping (ask the patient to smile)
A=Arms note any lack of coordination dropping of objects or marked weakness on one side
S=Speech make sure speech is not slurred or sounding strange
T= Time… if any of these are present call 911.