By Ben Croxford
Have you had a headache in the last week? There’s a good chance you have! Headaches are extremely common and all of us experience them in one form or another. I’m sure you know the feeling of an impending headache and understand how debilitating it can be.
There are many different types of headaches and they can be caused by, literally, thousands of different reasons ranging from mild to sinister. Though most headaches do not have a serious underlying cause, if they are managed poorly, headaches can become a debilitating long-term problem. I see this all too often as a physiotherapist and wish to encourage headache sufferers to seek treatment and support early.
The most common type of headache is known as a tension-type headache. The causes of a tension headache are often lifestyle-related and can include triggers such as stress, diet, tiredness and prolonged postures. There can be many contributing factors happening all at once, which unfortunately makes developing a treatment plan a complex task. The great news is, though, that targeting simple everyday improvements with exercise, sleep habits and healthy diet choices is proven to help significantly with many headache types. Other treatments can include hands-on therapy by a trained professional, medication from your doctor and relaxation techniques.
We live in a technology age where we are less active than ever before. Computers, mobile phones and TV’s dominate our daily lives and contribute to a lot of the headaches that I treat. Avoiding prolonged postures and staying active is crucial in both treating and preventing headaches. Make sure you’re taking a break from screen time as often as you can, get some regular exercise and use tools to help you change postures often, such as a sit-stand desk. Recent evidence suggests moving around is more effective at reducing the risk of a tension headache than just about anything else.
Whilst serious causes of headaches are rare, it is always a good idea to seek a professional assessment for severe, persistent or recurrent headaches to rule out more sinister underlying diseases. A trained professional like a GP or physiotherapist can recognise patterns in a headache presentation by asking about location, onset and associated symptoms, and know when to refer for appropriate investigative tests.
Ben Croxford is a Physiotherapist and leads the team at Form & Practice Mt Evelyn, Olinda and Chirnside Park. His writings explore his favourite health topics, challenge common myths and aim to empower you to take control of your own health. Find out more at formandpractice.com.au
