FEELING GREAT: Headaches are more than just a pain in the head!

Headaches can be caused by a variety of issues.

And here at the clinic it’s incredible just how many people we see who tell us that they’ve suffered from headaches so often, that they just consider them to be a regular part of life they end up dealing with.

In my years of experience it’s often the case that if someone is suffering from the dreaded regular episodes of headaches, that they just haven’t got to the real underlying root cause of their pain - and most of the time it’s nothing to do with anything that’s going on in the head!

Many times recurring headaches may be the result of tension in the shoulders, jaw or neck - something that many people aren’t even aware of.

While painkillers prescribed may take the pain away for a few hours, they aren’t actually doing anything to prevent them from coming back.

The one thing most people disregard as a trigger is ‘stress’. We feel it as tightness and tension in our neck and shoulder muscles - and all of this tension brings on headaches!

So what are some things you can do right now to help?

There’s a number of relaxation techniques that can reduce symptoms of stress.

Making time for pleasurable activities such as listening to music, reading a book, or doing your favourite exercise - I personally love to go for a run, as it really helps to clear my mind and keep stress at bay.

In addition, set aside time, even if it’s just 10 minutes a day, to practice different relaxation techniques - things like Yoga, Pilates, Tai Chi and deep breathing.

At the end of the day stress can make your head hurt - and a headache can really stress you out!

So either way, to reduce the pain, we’ve got to rein in the stress. Which brings me on to this.

For more tips on how to ease neck and shoulder pain, head here to download my free tips guide: www.paulgoughphysio.com/neck-shoulder-pain/