Headaches are a pain.
We all get them now and again, but for some of us, they can be a regular occurrence…
Here, at the clinic, it’s incredible just how many people we see who tell us that they’ve suffered from headaches. Often, many of my patients consider them to be a regular part of life.
That’s why things like ibuprofen and other types of painkillers are such big sellers.
But drugs can only relieve the symptoms temporarily by masking the pain.
What is concerning about this is that these recurring headaches may actually be the result of some other underlying problem!
Take a look at this email I received from a new patient last week as an example:
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“Hi Nick, after reading your neck pain and headaches free report, I wanted to send you an email to see if you could help me!
I’m 48 years old and in the last 6 months, I’ve been suffering from some of the worst headaches I’ve ever had.
I sit in front of a computer daily for at least 8 hours, in a job that is stressful most of the time.
Recently, I visited my doctor, who gave me pills to take the pain away… but the pain still exists and all I feel is constant tightness and pounding at the front of my head.
I don’t know what to do, or what the cause could be.
Do you have any ideas?
Thanks, Nick.”
– Allison, 48
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Of course, I have several ideas of what could be causing Allison’s headaches!
In my years of experience, it’s often the case that if someone is suffering from regular episodes of headaches. They haven’t addressed the real underlying root cause of their pain – and most of the time it has nothing to do with anything that’s going on in the head!
Many times recurring headaches may be the result of tension in the shoulders, jaw, or neck – something that many people aren’t even aware of.
You see, while simple painkillers prescribed by the doctor may help take the pain away for a few hours, they aren’t actually doing anything to prevent them from coming back and striking you out of nowhere in the middle of the day.
Most people are aware that sometimes certain foods such as cheese, chocolate, and red wine can bring on a nasty headache. But so can other things… like hormone changes, being in a smokey room, irregular meals, and disrupted sleep.
But what happens when you try to change all of these things but pounding headaches just won’t go away?
The one thing most people disregard as a trigger is ‘stress’. We all know stress does many things to our body, but where do we feel stress the most?
We feel it as tightness and tension in our neck and shoulder muscles – and all of this tension brings on headaches!
Picture this…
Mornings can be manic. You’re running around each morning, you’re late, you can’t find your keys, you’re not prepared for your morning meeting at work and the dog has just tracked mud all through the living room… No wonder why you’re stressed!
Add all of those daily stressors up, you’ll likely find that at the end of the week you’ve got a lot of tension around your shoulders.
This is why it’s important to deal with these things daily, without responding to them in a stressful way, so we can start to prevent headaches and make them occur less and less.
So what are some things you can do right now to help?
There are a number of relaxation techniques that can reduce symptoms of stress. Making time for pleasurable activities such as listening to music, reading a book, or doing your favorite exercise – I personally love to go for a run, as it really helps to clear my mind and keep stress at bay.
In addition, set aside time, even if it’s just 10 minutes a day, to practice different relaxation techniques – things like Yoga, Pilates, Tai Chi, and deep breathing.
At the end of the day, stress can make your head hurt – and a headache can really stress you out! So either way, to reduce the pain, we’ve got to rein in the stress.
If you need more tips to ease neck pain and headaches, you can download my free report here instantly: https://preferredptaz.com/neck-pain-headaches/… which shows you how to ease pain, naturally, without needing painkillers.
Dr, Nick’s greatest passion is seeing his patients recover from injury and return to their activities that bring them joy.
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