Do you regularly suffer from the pounding throb of a tension headache, or the intense pain of a migraine? Headaches are a daily or weekly occurrence for many people and are often brought on by lifestyle factors and environmental triggers like posture, food, environmental contaminants, and stress. Read on for some information on headaches, and tips and tricks to prevent headaches and ease the pain of frequent migraines.

Avoiding Common Headache Triggers

Headaches may be triggered by a variety of different causes. If you can identify your particular triggers or trigger, you will be better equipped to avoid a headache or migraine in the future. Your headache may be caused by the food you eat – certain foods like dairy (particularly cheese) processed meats and other processed foods, foods high in nitrates, caffeine, and alcohol are particularly adept at causing a headache.

Alternatively, a headache may be the result of loud noise, intense smells, a poorly ventilated room, or bright lights. Your trigger could be tiredness, too much exercise, or a blood sugar spike and slump. A majority of headaches are caused by tension in the neck, shoulders and upper back. If you sit in front of a computer all day or you stand with bad posture you are at risk of frequent headaches.

Chiropractic Treatment for Headaches

Because many headaches are the result of built-up tension in the neck and back, it makes sense to seek out chiropractic treatment. A chiropractor will help properly align the spine so you are not putting excess pressure on the joints in your neck and the base of the skull. You will also be taught how to sit and stand properly so you don’t cause problems with bad posture.

What Else Can You Do?

Take regular exercise in order to relieve tension and increase flexibility in your neck and spine. Try not to stay in one fixed position for more than 30 minutes or so – move around regularly and carry out some stretching exercises in order to promote range of movement and cut stress.

Watch your diet. Make sure you get plenty of water and avoid trigger foods, but also make sure you have plenty of vitamins and minerals for optimum health (and minimal headache pain.)

Try relaxation techniques like yoga, meditation, and deep breathing. If all else fails, spend some time in a darkened room listening to calming music if you cannot get rid of your headache.