Headaches at Work: Causes and Help

You’re sitting at your computer and you begin to feel the symptoms for headaches you know so well.

Are you powerless to fend off these headache symptoms as you rush to meet deadlines or do you have to keep relying on aspirin or prescription drugs?

Your headaches, whether at the office or working in the yard, might not start in the head.

Dr. Marina Banik, a chiropractor in South Pasadena, writes on her web site that headaches can start from spinal bones in the neck that aren’t supporting the head properly.

“You might not notice your reduced ability to turn your head,” according to what she has on her website, “But these subluxations [a stress response when spinal bones lock up] affect nerves, muscles and even the blood supply to your head.”

Dr. Banik writes that some are surprised to learn that their headaches are being caused by problems in their lower back. The upper spine compensates, putting the head off center, causing headaches.

So is the spine the source of all headaches? Not necessarily, according to Dr. Banik’s web site. The three most common causes are physical trauma, emotional stress or chemical toxins. Sometimes there may be a combination of factors. An examination process helps identify the most likely cause.

What can you do to ward off headaches so you can stay more productive on your job or even enjoy your times of recreation?

Paul Bacho, a certified trainer in Cleveland, Ohio, says simple exercises can help.

“Every 15-20 minutes or so, all you need to do is take your hands away from your desk, lean back in your chair and do a behind-the back stretch.

“Just put your arms around the back of your chair and try and squeeze your shoulder blades together so that you stretch out your chest muscles. At the same time, keep your head back so that you stretch out the front of your body.

“Whenever you do this (or any) stretch, try to hold it for three minutes.”
So what should you do if your doctor, someone at work or in your family tells you, “ah, it’s all in your head?”

Dr. Banik writes that the pain you feel is real. “And psychological sources of pain are common. However, this ‘diagnosis’ is often the last resort of health practitioners who have exhausted their possible explanations of the cause of your problem. In these cases, we’ve often found that undetected subluxations are likely culprits.”

While there’s no easy and immediate cure, Dr. Banik urges people with headaches or any ailment to eat properly, drink plenty of water, reduce their coffee intake and exercise regularly. And, above all, remain hopeful.