Most people will experience a headache at some point in their lives. According to the World Health Organization, 3 billion people in the world experienced a headache in the last year. Millions of dollars are spent on prescription drugs and over the counter medications for pain relief; many of the medications have side effects and are a temporary fix.
The good news is acupuncture can bring relief to the pain experienced with headaches and dramatically reduced the frequency and severity of headaches and migraines. Several studies have shown that regular acupuncture treatments can not only reduce the frequency of headaches and migraines but also decrease their severity. That means less pain and the ability to be more productive and enjoy life!
Common headaches and their causes:
- Tension headaches- spending prolonged periods of time in front of a computer screen can bring on a headache.
- Dehydration – not drinking enough water especially in the summer or the correct electrolyte balance. This kind of headache occurs with a hangover or during exercise.
- Stress – triggers the nervous system in a way that affects the muscles of the neck and shoulders as well as heart rate, blood pressure and digestion. All can lead to a headache.
- Changes in sleep or lack of sleep
- Allergies- sneezing and a runny nose is not the only sign of and allergies; exposure to allergens can trigger an inflammatory response. Certain food sensitivities most commonly to red wine, gluten, MSG and processed meats.
- Postural or structural- poor posture and slouching affects blood flow to the brain and can cause the foggy dull headache.
- Skipped meals- irregular eating will cause the body’s blood sugar to fluctuate triggering a chemical imbalance within the body, headache accompanied by nausea often go together.
In addition to regular acupuncture treatments, here is what you can do to prevent a headache:
- Take breaks away from the computer and electronics.
- Drink plenty of water; if you exercise make sure you replace the electrolytes lost.
- Make sure to have a weekly activity that helps you de-stress.
- Be proactive in eliminating foods that trigger headaches and address the underlying sensitivities.
- Stretch your body and do exercises to strengthen your core and help with posture.
- Eat regular meals. Keep some snacks on you this not only helps with concentration but also helps with weight loss.
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