Did you know that 50% of adults worldwide suffer from headaches? That is around 4 billion people who suffer from headaches! They are the most common form of pain people experience and a major reason for missed days at work or school. But, what is even crazier to think about is that many headaches can be prevented or reduced with lifestyle changes.
The information provided in this post is not a substitute for professional medical advice or treatment for specific medical conditions. You should not use this information to diagnose or treat a health problem without consulting a qualified healthcare provider. Links throughout this blog may also contain affiliate links. Please be assured, that these are all products I personally use and/or recommend. There is no additional cost to you, and often times when you use my link, you will save money with my exclusive discounts and coupons.
What is a Headache and Why Do they Hurt?
Headaches are caused by the interactions between the brain, blood vessels and surrounding nerves in the head/neck region. They can be activated by various triggers, which we will discuss later. Headaches are not actually caused by the brain itself, as the brain does not have any pain receptors. However, the blood vessels and tissues (scalp, muscles, joints, sinuses) that surround the brain can signal pain.
What Causes Headaches?
Truthfully, there is a very long list of possible causes for headaches, so I am going to cover the most common ones. First of all, dehydration is a major one. The human body is made up of 70% water. When you do not have enough fluids, the tissues in your body quickly become dehydrated and the fluid cushion around the brain is negatively impacted. Did you know that the brain is composed of 85% water and your blood is 95% water? This is why it is so important to stay hydrated.
Another common cause for headaches is stress. Stress can lead to increased muscle tension, which can put pressure on the nerves in the head and neck region. Additionally, when you are stressed, your cortisol levels increase which increases your heart rate and affects your nervous system.
Changes in the weather are also known to cause headaches. When there are changes in the barometric pressure it can influence the amount of fluid in the brain, leading to headaches.
Sleep deprivation is another common trigger for headaches. Not getting enough sleep can lead to changes in the brain chemistry and increases the stress hormones in the body. Lack of sleep also interferes with the body’s natural ability to heal and remove toxins that build up from the day.
Last but not least, hormonal changes have a significant impact on headaches. Hormones can affect the way the brain perceives pain. This can be from the changes during your menstruation, pregnancy or menopause.
How to Prevent Headaches
First, I recommend tracking when you have headaches, so that you can identify your triggers. Secondly, make sure you are getting enough sleep every night. You should aim for at least 7-8 hours of sleep per night. Third, remember to stay hydrated. Especially during the hot summer months. Fourth, aim to develop healthy tools to help manage your stress levels. This could be incorporating exercise, yoga, mediation, and/or journaling into your daily routine. Additionally, it is important to eat three healthy meals a day. Skipping meals can trigger headaches due to blood sugar levels fluctuating. I would also highly recommend preventative health care professionals, such as chiropractors.
Can Chiropractic Help with Headaches?
Chiropractic care is very successful for treating headaches. There have been multiple studies released stating that chiropractic is effective in reducing the frequency and severity of all headache types. This is because chiropractors use gentle spinal manipulations to improve joint alignment and posture to reduce stress on the head, neck and shoulder regions. With proper spinal alignment, nerve irritation and inflammation are significantly reduced. In combination with spinal manipulations, soft tissue therapy is incorporated to help with recovery. A happy nervous system means a quicker healing process and little to no headaches.