Most people are familiar with occasional headaches. They can be disrupting for a little while, but usually, they go away after a little time and rest. However, if you’re one of the many who suffer from long-lasting or frequently recurring headaches, you may be looking for a solution that can help.

Treatments for chronic headaches vary from person to person depending on the cause and severity of the headache. However, there are some general tips for managing chronic headaches that everyone should follow to help keep headaches at bay. 

Five tips for managing chronic headaches

1. Ease the pressure off your head — You may be putting pressure on your head in ways that you don’t realize. Wearing a hat that fits too snugly or pulling your hair back in a tight ponytail can put pressure on your head that increases your frequency of headaches.
   
2. Drink more water — Many headaches are the result of dehydration. Simply drinking more water throughout the day can help reduce and prevent headaches.
   
3. Quit smoking — Smoking inhibits your blood flow and limits the amount of nutrients and oxygen that your brain needs for daily function. With less of an intake of nutrients and oxygen, you may experience more frequent headaches.
   
4. Stretch every day — Tension in your neck muscles frequently leads to headaches. When the neck muscles are tense, pressure increases on your spine, which causes pain in the nerves that spreads into your head. Stretching your neck muscles every day can help reduce and prevent pain related to tension.
   
5. Improve your posture — Poor posture can strain your neck muscles, adding to the tension and pressure in your neck that can contribute to headaches. Make sure you sit and stand with your head straight and your ears squared with your shoulders. When sleeping, make sure you have enough support under your head to keep your spine in alignment. 

Visit Franklin Rehabilitation for chronic headache treatment

Despite your best efforts, you may still deal with chronic headaches that make your daily life much more challenging. In these circumstances, physical therapists can help. At Franklin Rehabilitation, our physical therapists can examine your condition to pinpoint the source of your pain and work on a treatment that will help.

The treatments we provide are always personalized to your needs. They are designed to help reduce and prevent headaches by empowering your body’s own natural abilities rather than relying on medications or invasive procedures. Physical therapy treatments often include:

• Therapeutic exercises and stretches
• Joint and soft tissue mobilization
• Posture guidance
• Patient education and more

Contact our team today for more information about chronic headaches or to schedule an initial appointment.