Ease Tension Headaches With These Chiropractic Tips
By Sara Butler
What do you get when you combine poor posture, repetitive movements, and stress? Tension headaches, of course! The chiropractors at The Joint see many patients who complain of headaches and need help to discover why, but if tension headaches are your issue, then there are things you can do outside the chiropractor's office to help. Here are some tips from the chiropractors at The Joint to help you avoid tension headaches.
The Cause
There are many things that contribute to tension headaches. From lifestyle choices to posture, some of the biggest factors include:
- Looking down for hours at a time at your computer or phone screen
- Driving long distances without rest
- Playing video games for several hours per day
- Sleeping on your stomach
- Clenching your jaw during the day or when you sleep
Any of these activities can put unnecessary stress and strain on the muscles in your neck and shoulders, which then makes you more susceptible to tension headaches. Combine that with overuse of the muscles in your shoulders, neck, and jaw and you've got a recipe for headaches and even muscle spasms that can make you feel even more miserable.
Different Types of Tension Headaches
The chiropractors at The Joint see a couple of different types of tension headaches in patients: chronic and episodic. Chronic tension headaches tend to occur as the result of daily activities. You can wake up with them or they can strike after a long day at work. They are often the result of the muscles in your scalp and neck staying in a contracted position for a long period of time, whether it's when you're asleep or awake. This causes tightness to develop that can then turn into the cause of a tension headache.
Episodic tension headaches tend to occur due to stressful events. They come on fast and can resolve once the event is over.
What You Can Do
Aside from regular visits to the chiropractor, there are a few things you can do to avoid tension headaches in your life. You can:
- Work to minimize daily stress
- Take breaks often when working or driving
- Change the way you sleep from your stomach to your side or back
- Stretch your muscles throughout the day
- Exercise
- Pay attention to your posture
One of the advantages to chiropractic care for your tension headaches is, with the help of the chiropractor, you can determine the underlying cause of your headaches and take steps to eliminate the cause, helping to resolve the problem for good!
To learn more about your health, wellness, and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Aurora, Colo.