| If you're a headache sufferer, you know that | | | | the same time each day. |
| there are times when it's virtually impossible to | | | | - Change your body position at work often during |
| look, feel, think, and live your best. Debilitating | | | | the day. |
| headaches can cripple your personal as well as | | | | - Confront a stressful situation head on by |
| professional life, often resulting in postponing | | | | speaking up for your needs. |
| activities, deadlines, and daily tasks for hours or | | | | - Avoid common trigger foods such as chocolate, |
| even days. | | | | cheese, caffeine, and alcohol. |
| My 3Rs are great for identifying solutions to the | | | | - Stay well hydrated. |
| headache problem. Even if just one technique | | | | - See your doctor if your headache is a result of |
| works for you, it's a gift that can help put your | | | | a fall or trauma. |
| wellness back on track. | | | | - See your dentist if you wake up with jaw |
| RECOGNIZE what's fueling your headaches. | | | | pain.Remedies to try. Although it's possible your |
| The single most effective step you can take | | | | headaches are so severe that you must take |
| toward relieving frequent headaches is to | | | | prescription medication at the first sign of |
| understand what causes them. A great way to | | | | impending pain, my goal is for you to take as little |
| identify causes is to keep a headache journal. In | | | | medication as possible, as infrequently as possible. |
| your journal, start looking for patterns. When do | | | | Have a few alternatives on hand so you're not |
| headaches most often affect your life? Are they | | | | tempted to reach for the pills unless absolutely |
| seasonal and predictable, or are they random? | | | | necessary. |
| Could they related to a food, such as wine, | | | | - An ice pack applied to the pain point. This simple |
| chocolate, or cheese? Do they become worse | | | | trick may be enough to relieve your pain. Frozen |
| before a stormy day? Are they hormone-related? | | | | peas, anyone? |
| Do they originate from a sinus condition, grinding | | | | - Acupressure-to-go. With one finger or the |
| teeth, poor posture, or eye strain? Most of all, | | | | eraser on a pencil, massage the area between |
| are they stress-related? | | | | and slightly above the crease between the first |
| REFRAME your thoughts and actions. | | | | and second toe whenever you feel a headache |
| Are you content to let headaches take over your | | | | coming on. |
| life? Of course not. You have the power to seize | | | | - Herbal and nutritional supplements. Not only can |
| control. It all starts with a change of attitude. | | | | they relieve headaches, but some supplements |
| Don't focus on how much headache pain limits | | | | can even prevent them. Known anti-headache |
| you. Instead, think about the many different | | | | supplements include feverfew, butterbur (although |
| options you have to fight off pain. | | | | be aware of possible side effects), magnesium, |
| Modalities. Have you considered acupuncture, | | | | Vitamin B2 (riboflavin), willowbark extract, and |
| acupressure, massage, guided meditation, or other | | | | certain topical oils, to name a few.RECLAIM the |
| mind-body techniques? These drug-free, holistic | | | | health you deserve. |
| methods are time-tested and effective at | | | | While headaches may be a reality in your life, be |
| controling or even preventing headaches for | | | | on the lookout for victim thinking, which blames |
| many patients. | | | | someone or something else for your condition. |
| Action steps. If your journal helped you identify | | | | This does nothing to solve the problem--and isn't a |
| what sets your head screaming, you may be able | | | | solution what you really want? |
| to eliminate that trigger directly. But even | | | | The alternative is so much nicer: Take |
| headaches caused by unknown triggers, or the | | | | responsibility. Commit to finding out what your |
| biological or environmental ones you can't avoid, | | | | particular discomfort responds to, and fight back |
| may benefit from these approaches. | | | | by trying different options for preventing and |
| - Wear earplugs to block out excessive noise. | | | | relieving headaches in your life. |
| - Get plenty of exercise and sleep, preferably at | | | | |