It is easier to prevent a headache than it is to treat one. Headaches are a common health problem worldwide. There are many ways to manage a headache, but it’s best to try and prevent them all together. There are several things you can do to help prevent headaches from occurring.
Understanding Your Headaches
Before you can focus on preventing your headaches, you need to understand them. By recording your headaches, you will be able to identify triggers. This will help you begin your headache prevention plan. Keep a list of the following information:
- The foods you eat
- The beverages you drink
- Medicines you take
- When you wake up and go to sleep
- All physical activities
You should keep detailed notes of every headache. The information can include what time it occurred and what you did to treat it. You should also make a note of the weather conditions and any hormonal changes that may have occurred. Once you have a few entries in your journal, you may begin to see patterns or common headache triggers. Below is a list of the most common triggers:
- Stress
- Alcohol
- Bright lights
- Loud noises
- Dehydration
- Too much or not enough sleep
- Hormone changes
- Not eating enough
- Smoking
- Straining your eyes
- Caffeine-withdrawal
- Food additives
Look for these triggers in your journal as this will help your doctor determine what is causing your headaches. It can also help you decide how to prevent them in the future.
Things You Can Try at Home
While medication is the most common form of treatment for headaches, it is possible to try more natural methods first. After you discover what triggers your headaches, you can take steps to eliminate that action or minimize it at the least. Here are some other options to help you at home:
- Stay active and maintain good posture. Make sure to move your neck around to prevent it from becoming stiff, especially if you are working at a desk for extended periods of time. You can also benefit from giving your eyes a break now and then to prevent eyestrain.
- Get better pillows. You should choose your pillows carefully. Also, if you are traveling, consider taking your pillows with you.
- Maintain your schedule. Make sure to stick to your regular schedule. Try not to greatly change your diet or walking, sleeping and exercise patterns.
- Get enough sleep. Sleeping too much or too little can cause a headache. Make sure to get about eight hours of sleep each night.
- Eat healthily and exercise. By eating healthier and getting regular exercise, you can help prevent headaches. Don’t skip meals. Try having a healthy snack between meals to stop you from getting too hungry.
- Drink water. Be sure to drink a lot of water during the day because dehydration can also lead to headaches.
- Relieve stress. Stress is another common cause of headaches. Try to find ways to relieve and deal with your stress. This may include getting involved in a new hobby or exercising more often.
Lake Pointe Chiropractic Can Help
There are many ways to prevent a headache. Most of them are easier than trying to treat a headache after the fact. Make sure you get enough sleep at night and drink plenty of water during the day. It is also a good idea to keep a record of each headache you get so that you can identify your triggers. This will help you come up with a prevention plan. To learn more about how to prevent headaches, contact Lake Pointe Chiro.
