We all know what one is, we’ve all had one before, and chances are, we’ll all probably experience one again in the future. If the title didn’t make it obvious enough, we’re referring to the painful reality that is headaches.
Headaches can be inconvenient at the best of times, but when they strike at work, things can quickly begin to feel unbearable. There are some things you can do, though, and we’re on hand to help. We have previously discussed the importance of posture at your workstation, this factor in generating headaches and the importance of the correct ergonomic set-up. Here, we’ll discuss our other top tips for managing them at work.
Watch your fluid intake
It goes without saying that staying hydrated is essential for our overall health, but did you know that only 1 in 10 of us consumes enough water to qualify for being adequately hydrated?
When you add multiple cups of tea and coffee into the mix (yes, tea contains caffeine too!), it can be a recipe for disaster for those of us who suffer from headaches.
Increasing your water and decreasing your caffeine intake can seriously work wonders in preventing and reducing the impact of headaches at work. Plus, many people claim that being adequately hydrated can boost your energy levels as much (or even more than) several cups of coffee; at the very least you won’t experience the dreaded caffeine crash!
Work on managing stress
We know this is easier said than done but headaches are often caused by muscle strain and tension as a result of stress. This, therefore, means that managing this effectively can play a key role in headache reduction and relief.
A professional chiropractor can certainly help relieve muscle tension, however, you can increase the effectiveness of this even further by working on managing your workplace stress, enforcing regular breaks and taking practical steps to avoid burnout.
Take care of your eyes
Blue light emitted from computer and phone screens can contribute to (or even cause) painful headaches. It’s therefore essential to ensure you’re taking regular breaks away from your screen.
In fact, the government recommends that you short breaks often, rather than longer ones less often. For example 5 to 10 minutes every hour is better than 20 minutes every 2 hours.
If possible, it’s also recommended that you avoid harsh lighting that can trigger the onset of a headache or make an existing one worse; although we appreciate this can be more difficult in an office environment.
An important note
While there are definitely things that can be done to ease headaches and manage pain in the office, we must stress that if you are dizzy, unresponsive to painkillers, or experience personality changes you must consult a doctor immediately.
At Morley Chiropractic Clinic, our chiropractors use a combination of chiropractic techniques, exercises and massage, to ease stress and tension in your joints and muscles, freeing up your movement and reducing pain. If you’d like to find out more about how a chiropractor can help ease your headaches, get in touch with the team today.
