Have you ever wondered what causes your headaches? The truth is, the list of possible reasons can be incredibly long and leave you thinking, “am I dehydrated?”, “am I getting enough sleep?”, “is this from too much screen time?”, “do I need a vision exam?”, or one of many other self-check questions. Many of us who complain of chronic, on-again-off-again headaches are guilty of one of the following 3 preventable causes:
- Poor Posture
- Holding Tension from Stress
- Poor Sleep Positioning
In a time of remote and telecommuting work, we are ALL guilty of poor posture, leaning over a computer or lounging in bed while we watch our Zoom call meetings. COVID-19 has also given us a fair amount of extreme stress, which most people tend to hold in their upper trapezius muscles, which are the muscles that lead from the neck along to the outside of your shoulders. This tension makes us hold a constant raised-shoulder position. Anyone else just take a deep breath, relax, and feel their shoulders drop a few inches?! Me too. Finally, the way we sleep can absolutely lead to reoccurring headaches; whether it is the amount or quality of sleep, getting good Zzzz’s is very important!
So, what can you do??
First, make an appointment for a full evaluation at Prana Wellness. We have a Physical and Occupational Therapist both trained to treat cervical spine injuries and headaches caused by the above-mentioned culprits. With stretching, manual techniques, education, and strengthening, we can help you achieve a medication-free, headache-less life! Who doesn’t want that?!
Next, start practicing stress management every day. Little things like breathing, yoga, and relaxation can do a world of good for your physical as well as mental health. It’s amazing the difference you notice with just 10 minutes of stress management a day.
Finally, change your environment. Occupational therapists are specifically trained in ergonomics. Ergonomics is just a fancy word for the study of people’s efficiency in their working environment. Who knew that the chair and desk you sit at for work could be the ones causing your annoying headaches every day? OTs have all of the adaptations to your workplace to fit and support you!
Headaches DON’T have to be something you just live with. You don’t have to run through a bottle of over-the-counter medicine to keep them at bay. There are ways to treat them, and we can help! Come see us soon so you can begin to live headache and medication free!