Almost everybody gets a bad headache at some point in life; the familiar throbbing head pain, tight banding around the skull and steady ache behind the neck are annoying at the very least, excruciating at their worst. Ninety percent of women and 70 percent of all men have suffered tension headaches at least once. Health experts attribute the symptoms of tension headaches to stress,tense muscles, lack of sleep and hormonal changes.

Neurologists recommend that chronic headache patients follow a lifestyle which includes light exercise, regular sleep habits, relaxation techniques and avoidance of caffeine and other dietary headache triggers.

Wine, Cheese, Perfume, and other Headache Triggers

Below are the 4 most common methods for treating chronic headaches:

#1: Neurologist: A trip to a neurologist is the single most effective way to find a cure for your headache symptoms. A neurologist will issue a CT scan or MRI in order to rule out life-threatening conditions such as a brain tumor, aneurysm or stroke. Neurologists often prefer biofeedback as an effective and natural treatment for tension headaches. Biofeedback monitors your heart rate, blood pressure and tension to help you identify stress triggers and learn to relax the body through correct breathing.

#2: Acupuncture: Sometimes headache sufferers wish to stop taking prescription pain medicine or over-the-counter anti-inflammatory medication for their migraines or other headache symptoms. Studies have proven that chronic headache patients have had positive results through the ancient Chinese practice of acupuncture. Acupuncture utilizes responsive grid zones on the body; practitioners insert micro-thin needles to activate the body’s endorphins for pain reduction, rejuvenation and relaxation, thereby naturally alleviating headache pain.

Does Acupuncture Relieve Migraines?

#3: Homeopathy: A qualified homeopathic practitioner can prescribe natural treatments to prevent chronic headaches, along with some helpful tips for following a healthy diet and avoiding common food triggers. The philosophy behind homeopathy is that the body’s response to stimuli is always correct, so rather than fight headache symptoms, a homeopath will prescribe certain herbs which mimic the body’s reaction to headache triggers. Nux vomica and belladonna are common homeopathic herbs which are diluted and administered for headache relief.

Migraine Pop Quiz: How Well do you Understand your Headaches?

#4: Nutrition: Dietary supplements are essential for maintaining a healthy response to inflammation, according to many health experts. Supplementing with nutrients such as magnesium, coenzyme Q10, riboflavin, or vitamin B2 results in dramatic health benefits for a growing number of migraine patients.

Alexander Mauskop, MD, director of the New York Headache Center, says that “up to 50 percent of headache sufferers can be magnesium deficient.” Magnesium is known to alleviate aches and pains associated with daily life and influence the brain’s response to inflammation.

Also read:

Migraine Headaches Send Millions to the Emergency Rooms

How to Transform a Chronic Migraine into an Episodic Headache

Sources:

Oprah.com, PubMed Gov, WebMD, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke