February 27, 2020
Regular Stretching Can Help You Avoid Migraines & Headaches
Migraines are the worst. Those of you who’ve been unlucky enough to suffer from one know that all too well. And you’re not alone in your misery.
According to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, nearly 12 percent of Americans experience migraine. And we’re sure that most of them would do pretty much anything to make their migraine go away.
The incapacitating pain in your head, uncomfortable vision changes, sensitivity to light, noise and odor, nausea, and vomiting are all-consuming and utterly dreadful. These recurrent attacks can range from moderate to severe and can last anywhere from 4 to 72 hours without treatment.
Talking about treatment, getting on top of a migraine is no easy feat. While medication has been proven to treat (and sometimes prevent) migraines, taking pills isn’t a panacea. In fact, taking too many pills too often can worsen your migraine and even lead to cluster headaches, which are insanely painful and very difficult to treat.
So, what actually causes these horrible headaches?
There’s no definitive answer to that question, since most people experience different triggers. Certain factors, however, can increase a person’s risk of developing a pounding head. Things like, sudden weather changes, loud noises, low blood sugar, a hangover, hormonal changes, bright lights, certain medications, and motion sickness, for example, can make you more susceptible to migraines.
One of the most common migraine causes, though, is something we’re all a little too familiar with: stress. This much too prominent condition can both cause and make a migraine much, much worse, found multiple researchers, including those at the Center for Pain and the Brain and Harvard Medical School.
While stress may not be your number one trigger (in addition to those factors mentioned above, consuming things like red wine, chocolate, or cheese may also cause your head to throb), stress is
always lurking in the background, ready to knock your head around.
It’s no surprise, then, that one of the best ways to manage and hopefully prevent a migraine is by keeping your stress level in check. Stretching is a great way to do this. When done properly and on a regular basis, stretching can help relieve tight muscles, which can cause your blood vessels to constrict and trigger a migraine. Stretching, especially when its combined with slow, deep breathing (i.e. the kind practiced in hatha yoga), can help increase your flexibility, calmness, and mood while at the same time lessening your stress and anxiety.
We’ve developed several easy stretches to help relieve headaches and hopefully prevent a migraine.
Get started today!