Self care for Headaches
By Dr. Mathew Stockstad, Ashevile -Fairview Chiropractic
What Can You Do to help your headaches?
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I suggest the following:
- Take short breaks every 20-30 minutes. If you spend a large amount of time in one fixed position, such as in front of a computer, on the couch, typing or reading, take a break and stretch a couple times an hour.
- Do some lite stretches by taking your head and neck through a comfortable range of motion, and will decrease joint stiffness and increase blood flow to the joints and muscles.
- Low-impact exercise may help relieve the pain associated with primary headaches. Engage in such activities as walking , Yoga or low-impact aerobics.
- Avoid clenching your teeth. The upper teeth should never touch the lowers, except when swallowing and chewing. Headaches that come from clinching brind on stress at the temporomandibular joints (TMJ) – the two joints that connect your jaw to your skull – leading to TMJ irritation and a form of tension headaches. (TMJ irritation is also easily treatable by chiropractors.) It is often referred to as TMD temporomandibula dysfunction.
- Drink lots of water. at least eight 8-ounce glasses of water a day to help avoid dehydration, which can lead to headaches.
Doctors of chiropractic undergo extensive training to help their patients in many ways – not just back pain. We know how tension in the spine relates to problems in other parts of the body, and we can take steps to relieve those problems.
For an appointment or further information call our Asheville – Fairview office at 828.299.4555 or visit our website for our 16 Winterwind Drive, 28803 location at www.drstockstad.com
