What's Causing my Headaches?

Learn the leading causes of headaches, and what your Gaithersburg, Potomac, Urbana, and Clarksburg chiropractor can do to help.

• If you work for hours on end at a desk or in front of a computer then you probably spend the majority of your time in one position. This can be terrible for your neck muscles and can lead to headaches. Therefore, try to take a break and stretch your muscles every 30 minutes to an hour. Talk to your Clarksburg chiropractor about the different kinds of stretches you can perform for your head and neck that will give it full range-of-motion.
• Low-impact exercises like walking or the elliptical could actually help reduce your tension headaches. However, if your headaches tend to be throbbing in nature, stay away from extreme or heavy exercises.
• Treat teeth cleaning or grinding, which can put stress on the temporomandibular joint (TMJ), the two joints of the jaw. This not only causes irritation and soreness of the jaw muscles but also tension headaches.
• Stay hydrated by drinking eight 8-ounces of water a day. Dehydration can also be a headache trigger.

• Spinal manipulation or adjustments can help improve spinal health and reduce the stress placed on certain muscles that could be causing tension and your subsequent headaches.
• Discuss diet and nutritional habits to see if you need to change your lifestyle or introduce supplements into your diet to reduce headaches.
• Discuss ergonomics, relaxation techniques to help with teeth clenching, and even stretching exercises. This will help reduce muscle and joint irritation and increase flexibility, especially around the neck.