Migraine sufferers know that migraines often come in 4 phases:
- Mood swings or stiff neck
- Arrow phase
- Headache
- Exhaustion
Knowing these phases and their triggers will help those who suffer from migraines learn their triggers and try to avoid them. The arrow phase often deals with a sensitivity to light or smells so if a person who suffers from migraines knows a certain smell that triggers them then hopefully they would avoid that smell.
Nagging Headaches Explained
We’ve all had headaches, but some of us have headaches with associated symptoms. Some of us have fatigue. Some of us have blurry vision. Some of us have stiff necks now, and although we’ve all had headaches in the past, having a chronic recurring headache is not normal.
If you do have chronic recurring headaches, you will want to get that fixed quickly but first, you will have to determine what type of headaches you are experiencing.
The types of headaches are:
- Migraines
- Tension headaches
- Cluster headaches
Migraine symptoms: last for 3 days or so, throbbing head pain, sensitivity to light and sound, more common in women
Tension headache symptoms: more common in the general public, located on the side of the head, can last hours to days, usually triggered by anxiety and depression.
Cluster headache symptoms: burning or piercing pain behind the eyes, can last 15 minutes to hours, more common in men
Can Stress Cause Headaches?
Do you have a family, a job, kids, bills to pay, or all of the above? There is a chance you are probably stressed out and increased stress can lead to headaches. It isn’t those issues that cause your headaches, it’s typically how your body manages that stress. We have a few tips on how to manage your stress and hopefully reduce your headaches.
- Exercise regularly
- This improves your overall health and releases endorphins which are your body’s natural feel-good chemical.
- Sleep
- Aiming for a full 8 hours of sleep every night helps keep us well-rested and able to manage our stress. Having consistent wake and sleep times is helpful to keep our bodies on a regulated schedule.
- Yoga and meditation
- Doing just 15 minutes every day helps to ease your mind and manage stress better.
- Chiropractic care
- Moving your joints and reducing fixations helps reduce physical stress on the body, release tight muscles, and down-regulate the nervous system.
If you’re feeling stressed out and can’t seem to shake headaches, give us a call today. Let us work with you to find a plan of action, to help reduce your stress levels and improve your headaches.