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Alternative Answers for Headaches
Headaches refer to pain in the head and sometimes neck. It can be located in the back of the head (occipital), the front of the head or forehead (frontal), on the top of the head (vertex), on the sides of the head (temporal) or wraps around the head (headband). Most headaches result from tension. Tension produces pain in the neck and shoulders resulting in constriction of the blood vessels and blood circulation resulting in headaches. Stress, guilt, fear, anger, depression, and rage are all contributing factors to tension headaches.
Underlying health problems can also result in headaches. Everything from sinusitis to nutritional imbalance, spinal misalignment to PMS, poor circulation to TMJ are all culprits. Food allergies and additives, cigarette smoke, air pollutants, poor ventilation, certain drugs, chemicals, and overexposure to sun are also factors. Proper diagnosis of the particular headache makes treatment much more specific and easier to diagnose.
The two most common type of headaches are:
1) Tension-type headaches
Most headaches (about 75%) result from tension. Tension produces pain in the neck and shoulders resulting in constriction of the blood vessels and blood circulation resulting in headaches. Stress, guilt, fear, anger, depression, and rage are all contributing factors to tension headaches.
2) Vascular headaches
Vascular headaches are caused by dilation of the blood vessels in the head, and are characterized by a throbbing or pounding pain, usually on one side of the head. The most common vascular headaches are:
migraines and cluster headaches.
Managing Your Headaches
Prevention is the key!
1. Sleep. A lot of people sleep a headache off, but don't oversleep. It is not recommended that you nap. While a nap may rid you of an existing headache, you don't want to nap if you're headache-free. Napping can actually cause migraines to those who are PRONE to them. Sleeping in an awkward position, or even on your stomach, can cause the muscles in your neck to contract and trigger a headache. Sleeping on your back or in a fetile position helps.
2. Posture also plays a role. Stand tall, sit straight. Avoid leaning or pushing your head in one direction. Forward head syndrome has been an issue recognized more so lately, due to the fact that so many people work on computers. The pitching of the head forward has actually become a syndrome. This weakens the entire foundation from the lumbar spine upward. If you can imagine toy blocks all aligned on top of each other. Now imagine pushing the top block forward. The other blocks underneath it begin to "stress" as they try to hang on to the top block. The same thing is happening to our spinal column as we pitch our head too far forward, instead of keep the head back and aligned over the rest of the spine. This leads to tension headaches and aggrevates TMJ syndrome.
3. Heat and cold. Some people like the feeling of cold against their foreheads or necks and for them it seems to help. An ice pack applied to the areas of the head, neck, back or shoulders will often relieve the burning sensation of headaches. This tends to work better for inflammation due to (all day) overuse. Others prefer hot showers or putting heat on their head, shoulder blades or necks. Heat helps increase blood flow and circulation. The idea is to find what works best for your type of headache.
4. Deep breathing is a great tension reliever. Take note: you're doing it right if your stomach is moving more than your chest. Check yourself for signs that you are tensing up and inviting headaches. Do you also have clenched teeth, clenched fists, hunched shoulders? Do this progressive relaxation technique
5. Learn biofeedback. Studies have proven it effective for both tension headaches and migraines. Biofeedback is the innate ability to influence the automatic nervous system through the exertion of will and mind. Chances are you have used biofeedback yourself. You've used it if you have ever taken your temperature or stepped on a scale. These devices "feed back" information about your body's condition.
6. Use your hands. Both self-massage and acupressure can help.
7. Excessive noise is a common trigger for tension headaches. Try balancing a noisy situation with complete silence. Consider ear plugs for some quiet time.
8. Protect your eyes from the sun, fluorescent lighting, television, or a video display and computer terminals which, can lead to squinting, eyestrain, and, finally, headache. Sunglasses are a good idea if you're going to be outside. If you're working inside, take some rest breaks from the computer screen and also wear some type of tinted glasses.
9. Eat something. Headaches can be the result of dehydration or low blood sugar. Drink a glass of water. Have a bowl of cereal or eat an orange. Chewing on a raw piece of ginger root is an ancient Chinese secret for headaches.
10. Trigger point therapy. Probably one of my best remedies for tension headaches, this can be done with a tennis ball while laying on a hard floor.
Andrew Pacholyk MS L.Ac
http://www.peacefulmind.com/headaches.htm
Therapies for healing
mind, body, spirit
