Take the headache or migraine out of Christmas

This month, Rebecca Nelson, spinal and headache physiotherapy specialist and clinic owner of Apex Clinic and Apex Headache Clinic, shares her top tips on staying headache and migraine-free this festive season.

Tis the season for headaches and migraines

Christmas is one of the busiest times of year at Apex Headache Clinic. What many people don’t realise is that the majority of headaches and migraines are triggered from the upper neck region of the spine, even if the person doesn’t suffer neck pain. An initial assessment at Apex Headache Clinic will ascertain if the headaches or migraines stem from the neck. The good news is that, in most cases, we can clear, or significantly reduce, headaches and migraines.

Apex Clinic’s survival guide for a headache and migraine-free Christmas

• Make sure your pillow is right for you. Soft, flat pillows can cause neck pain, stiffness, shoulder pain, headaches and migraines. Apex Clinic’s custom-made orthopaedic pillows are clinically proven to reduce neck pain, headaches and/or migraines in the majority of cases. The Apex Sleepwell Pillow range is available to purchase from the Clinic, from Apex Clinic’s website or from Amazon.

• Heavy lifting, such as carrying heavy shopping baskets and repetitive arm work, can excessively load the upper neck region and trigger headaches or migraines. Try pushing a trolley instead of carrying a shopping basket and break up heavy lifting by doing more lifts with lighter loads.

• Keep moving. Prolonged sitting in front of the TV keeps your neck very still and can trigger headaches. Make ‘little and often’ your mantra; break up prolonged sitting with exercise, such as going for brisk walks.
• Be careful of the quantity of wine you consume. Wine, even in small quantities, can trigger headaches and migraines. Spirits (and cocktails) are usually less of a trigger. If you are drinking alcohol, balance it with plenty of water to avoid dehydration.

• Avoid medication-overuse headaches by limiting your intake of painkillers for headaches and migraines to the worst two days of any week. Heat can provide temporary relief instead of painkillers and ice is not recommended.

Give the gift of a headache-free Christmas

If you suffer persistent headaches and migraines, help is at hand. Book an initial assessment and treatment today with Apex Headache Clinic and let our specialist spinal physios take the headache or migraine out of Christmas for you this year. Gift vouchers are available at Apex Headache Clinic, both in the Clinic and by calling on 028 9048 4153. Merry Christmas and a happy headachefree New Year from the team at Apex Clinic.