The Top 3 Causes of Headaches
A variety of factors can cause primary headaches. The good news is that many lifestyle factors are habits and patterns you can control. Discover the top 3 causes of headaches in our new blog.
A variety of factors can cause primary headaches. Understanding a few of the most common causes of headaches will give you the information to make the changes needed to find lasting relief! The good news is that many lifestyle factors are habits and patterns you can control.
Ironically, one of the most common causes of headaches is the medication usually prescribed to treat headaches. Overusing over-the-counter medications is a leading factor in a refractory or bounce-back headache, so pills may not be the best option for care. Many tension headaches start with repetitive motion and poor posture while sitting or standing at work. Keeping your shoulders back and your spine in proper alignment throughout the day can help prevent future episodes. And finally- most of the good stuff like coffee, cheese, alcohol, and meats have substances that can cause headaches. You don’t need to eliminate them, but we recommend having a watchful eye towards moderation.
- Medications: Many commonly prescribed pain-relieving medications (including those prescribed for headache relief) list headaches as a top side effect.
- Foods: coffee, cheese, alcohol, and many types of meat contain substances that can contribute to headaches.
- Posture: forward head posture due to long hours sitting or standing at work is a primary factor in the development of tension and cervicogenic headaches.
Do you see anything in the top 3 causes that may be contributing to your headaches? Taking a proactive step of improving your posture and ergonomics at work, moderating the foods that cause headaches, or asking your medical doctor about the side effects of medications and potentially finding alternative treatment options may help you reduce the frequency, severity, and impact of headaches are having in your life.
Science Sources:
- Mayo Clinic. Headache. 2018
- Medications and Substances Causing Headache. Medlink: Neurology. 2017
- Why all migraine patients should be treated with magnesium. Journal of Neural Transmission. 2012
- The effect of 90-day administration of a high dose vitamin B-complex on work stress. Human Psychopharmacology. 2011
- Chiropractic spinal manipulative therapy for cervicogenic headache: a single-blinded, placebo, randomized controlled trial. BMC Central. 2017
- Dose-response and efficacy of spinal manipulation for chronic cervicogenic headache: a pilot randomized controlled trial. SPINE 2010
