SIMPLE HEADACHE PREVENTION TIPS

Hello

Here are some very simple headache preventiontechniques you can do easily.  Refer to them as often as necessary.

1.  Use moist heat on your neck, shoulders and upper back.

Moist heat - either a hot towel or one of those microwavable heat packs - works great at
preventing headaches because it increases blood flow to the back of your head.

Simply apply on your neck and/or upper back at the first sign of muscle tightness.

And if you already have a headache, use moist heat.  Lots of times that will get rid of it.

2.  Avoid eye strain.

If you work at a computer, every 15 minutes or so focus on something on the wall, then focus on something else, then something else again.

After three refocusing exercises, resume your computer work.

Refocusing in this manner at 15 - 20 minute intervals helps prevent eyestrain, which can cause headaches.

3.  Take frequent breaks if you work at a sit-down job.

Every hour or so, get up and walk around for a minute or two.  As you do, make sure your
posture is good:  head up, shoulders back, chest out, stomach tight.

To make sure your posture is correct, stand sideways by a full-length mirror and draw an
imaginary line straight down through your ear.

If your posture is correct, that line should go straight through your shoulder, hip and ankle.

4.  Work in a good sitting posture.

If your job is a sit-down job, make sure you don't roll your shoulders in and jut your head out.

As when you take breaks to walk around, make sure your posture is good while you work:

head up, shoulders back, chest out, stomach tight.

5.  Every 60-90 minutes, take this three-minute stretch break.

Hook your arms around the backing of your chair if your chair has backing
that allows this.  Make sure your posture is good:  head up, shoulders
back, chest out, stomach tight.

If you don't have such a chair, stand at attention, like they do in the Army.

Now, gently squeeze your shoulder blades together until you feel a slight pull.

Hold for three minutes then release.

If during the course of this stretch you feel pain in your shoulders, chest or
upper back, ease off the stretch until the pain goes away, but don't quit
the stretch entirely.

After you release the stretch, your neck and upper back will loosen.

Doing this stretch periodically will prevent headaches.

And if you have a headache, it will often make it disappear.

Thanks for taking the time to check out these tips.  I encourage
you to do them regularly, as they definitely will help prevent headaches.

In good health,

Doug Fogel, "The Headache Guy"