healing ways

Heading Off Headaches

NATURAL STRATEGIES HELP HALT THE PAIN

by Carrie Jackson

Headaches are one of the most common pain conditions in the world. According to the Cleveland Clinic, up to 75 percent of adults have had a headache in the past year. While symptoms vary in scope and intensity, understanding the underlying cause of a headache can lead to better treatment outcomes. Most headaches can be treated holistically, and lifestyle modifications can be key to lasting relief.

There are more than 150 types of headaches, with the most common being tension, migraine and cluster. Migraine attacks, which according to the Migraine Research Foundation affect 12 percent of people in the U.S., are about three times more common in women than in men. Classic symptoms, which can be mild to severe, include throbbing or pounding pain located in the sinuses, forehead, back of the head or one of the temples.

Triggers

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publisher@NaturalAwakeningsNY.com Migraine can be triggered by changes in the weather, fatigue, stress, anxiety, insufficient sleep, dehydration and hormonal changes, according to the American Migraine Foundation. Headaches can also be provoked by certain allergens, such as cigarette smoke, exposure to harsh chemicals in cleaning or beauty products, mold, dust, caffeine, alcohol and fermented foods.

According to Alexander Feoktistov, M.D., Ph.D., founder of the Synergy Integrative Headache Center, in Chicago, many headaches are caused by some form of stress. “Both physical and emotional stress can manifest with headaches. These are often triggered by changes in a routine or schedule, which throws the body’s regulatory rhythm off. Skipping meals, varying