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Check for tension. Along with the preceding
tip, doctors recommends that patients periodically check their body for
tension throughout the day. If you notice that you get these headaches
frequently, check the body for signs of tension. Are your jaws set very
tightly? Are you scrunching your forehead? You want to check to see if
your fists are clenched. Also, when you stop at a red light, are your hands
gripping the wheel very tightly? If the answer to any of the questions
is yes - stop, relax and take a deep breath or two (don't go beyond a couple
of deep breaths, though; otherwise, you may begin to hyperventilate).
Quit smoking. Smoking may bring on or worsen a headache, especially if you suffer from cluster headaches - extremely painful headaches that last from 5 to 20 minutes and come in groups. Don't drink. Alcohol, aside from its notorious morning-after effect, may also bring on migraines and cluster headaches. Alcoholic beverages contain tyramine, an amino acid that may stimulate headaches. Start a program of regular exercise. Regular exercise helps to release the physical and emotional tension that may lead to headaches. Walking or jogging is recommended. These and other aerobic activities help to boost the vody's production of endorphins (natural pain relieving substances). Cut down on caffeine. Caffeine can increase muscle tension and your anxiety level. It also creates difficulties in sleeping, which can cause headaches. Another problem is that many people drink several cups of coffee a day during their work week byt cut their consumption on weekends. This can lead to weekend caffeine withdrawal headaches. You should slowly decaffeinate yourself. Decrease your caffeine intake by one-half per week. Besides that, people who prone to headaches should cut down to the equivalent of one cup of caffeinated coffee per day. Fight the nausea first. Some headaches may be accompanied by nausea, which can make you feel worse. What's more, the gastric juices produced by the stomach upset may hinder the absorption of certain over-the-counter and prescription analgesics, which may make these drugs less effective at relieving the pain of your headache. So, by first taking care of the nausea, the pain of the headache may be easier to treat. Sufferers can try peach juice, apricot nectar or flat cola to help alleviate nausea. Rise and retire at the same time every day. Going to bed and getting up at the same time everyday also helps prevent headaches. Changes in body chemistry that occur when you oversleep can precipitate migraines or other headaches. Keep a headache diary. If you get frequent headaches, try to tease out the factors taht seem to be responsivle. Pic up patterns. Figure out a way to record headaches and rate them on a zero-to-three scale of intensity: no headache, mild headache, moderate to severe headache, incapacitatin headache. Start to look at what foods you are eating. Women should begin tracking their periods, as well as their use of hormove-replacement medications. You can show this calendar to your doctor. |
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| 8.
Press your head back against
your chair, concentrating
on the tension in
the neck. Roll your head to the right and
feel the tension shift. Repeat to the left.
Straighten your head and bring it forward, pressing
chin to chest, Finally, allow
your head to return to a
comfortable position.
9. Shrug your shoulders up to your ears, holding the tension, then drop. Repeat the shrug, then move the shoulders forward and backward, feeling the tension in your shoulders and uppe r back. Drop the shoulders and relax. 10. Allow the relaxation to spread
deep into the shoulders,
into the back. Relax your neck and
throat. Relax your jaws and face. Allow the relaxation
to take over and grow deeper and deeper. When you are
ready, slowly open your eyes.
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