How To Use Your Head To Manage Headaches

Whether a migraine or the garden-variety kind, a headache can put quite a damper on your day.

Reaching for a pain killer in this situation may be well justified, but what about the next time?

Here is an increasingly novel (yet contrary to our main stream thinking) idea: how about tackling the problem at the source and reducing or eliminating it versus treating it afterwords?

Our country’s increasing drug dependence is convenient, but taking a “big picture” preventive approach to health usually leads to more effective, long-term results which cost less than a long list of medications.

Here are some ways to manage your headache by focusing on preventing the next attack:

1. Get plenty of sleep

Constant lack of sleep is going to catch up with you and lower not only your productivity, but also your peace of mind and frequency of headaches. This is simple to fix by changing up your daily routine to allow enough sleep at night.

Conditions such as insomnia and sleep apnea increase your headache risk as well, and may require a chat with your doctor.

2. Food triggers

Certain foods like chocolate, cheese and peanut butter can trigger migraines. Another trigger is hunger, as is not drinking enough water.

Know what your food triggers are and avoid them. Also, be sure to carry snacks with you so hunger doesn’t set one off, and drink plenty of water on a daily basis. Moderate amounts of caffeine can often help ease headaches after onset.

3. Quit/curb smoking

Smoking, or inhaling second-hand smoke, can trigger headaches. Yet another reason to add to the list to quit/curb smoking, or avoid areas of second-hand smoke.

4. Slim down

Need another reason to lose those extra pounds? Studies suggest links between obesity and more frequent and severe headaches. Time to get your work-out on.

5. Teeth clenching/grinding

Taking your stress out on your teeth? Teeth clenching and/or grinding put your facial muscles to hard work and can trigger headaches or even migraines.

A night guard provided by your dentist is a simple and conservative solution.

6. Relax

Know anyone without stress? I sure don’t. But letting it get out of control has many negative effects on your body, and headaches is just one of them.

Making time for rest and relaxation using techniques including yoga, meditation and deep breathing can ease an aching head and prevent future onsets.

Most of these don’t require anything more than an open mind and small (at least to start) modifications to your current lifestyle. But as in most cases, small changes can add up to huge rewards over time.

Next time you’re tempted to down a whole bottle of pills to ease your headache….please don’t! Use that moment to fuel your resolve to make some simple changes to reduce more headaches in the future.

Are you ready to try preventing future headaches?

(214) 522-3110            www.raodentistry.com

Image source: La Bioguia

Snoring: Is There A Nap For That?

After my son started sleeping through the night at 4 or 5 months, I was ready to welcome a full night’s rest like a long lost friend.

So imagine my surprise (ahem, thinly disguised rage), that yet another barrier resurrected itself between me and my precious sleep: my husband’s loud-as-can-be snoring.

Oh no no no NO.

An infant in need, yes. But the full-grown father of my children keeping me up for no reason?

Not on MY watch.

After a few nights of good, uninterrupted sleep (with hubby in the guest room), it hit me.

Hey! I can fix this! I’m a dentist. I do this for my patients, so why not my own husband?

I presented the idea to him, and explained he would need to wear a snore guard from now on. This would curb his snoring, and his stay in the guest room.

But why am I snoring? he asked. I thought only older people, like my parents, did that. Or those who are overweight.

Yes, and no, I replied. Actually people of all ages (and sizes) can snore.  Even my 3 yr old princess can belt out some honkers when she has a cold.

But yes, being overweight, male and increasing age do increase your likelihood, and more commonly lead to chronic snorers, meaning they do it all the time. Others are occasional snorers, often snoring when they’re in super deep (exhausted) sleep, after consuming alcohol or when nasally congested (like a cold or sinus infection).

He was initially resistant, but my evil eye soon put an end to that. To soften the blow, I did add that less snoring would allow him to sleep better too.

And if it doesn’t work? he asked.

Yes, there’s a chance it may not. In that case, he’d need a check up with an ENT doc to check for issues like a deviated septum or nasal polyps. (If he was a chronic snorer, he would also have to be checked for sleep apnea, a much more serious condition.)

The bottom line was we both needed rest. A constant lack of (good) sleep, no matter what the reason, has many negative effects–including lack of concentration and increased risk of high blood pressure, weight gain and depression.

Soon after, a snore guard was made. My husband also got back into his exercise routine, and got better (not “I have children” exhausted) sleep. As for me, my no-sleep related rage has long since subsided.

Which is great, because we both need our energy to exercise…..patience with our kids.

And none of that would’ve been possible if I’d let snoring continue to be a nuisance and feel exhausted day after day.

Don’t let snoring get in your way. Keep your risk low by maintaining healthy eating and exercise habits, and ask your dentist about a simple solution like a snore guard.

(214) 522-3110              www.raodentistry.com