Headache Suffering In Detroit Worsens During Cold Weather: Patients Often Find Solution With Physical Therapy

Every 10 seconds, someone in the United States goes to the emergency room with a headache or migraine. This translates to more than $1 billion spent on medications to treat the pain and $13 billion lost work time annually. In Detroit, headache suffering can increase during cold weather. Damp, cold weather can intensify sinus pain, triggering a headache. According to the New England Center for Headache, as many as half of all migraines are triggered by weather.

"Headaches are a secondary symptom to a primary issue, whether it is the cold weather, dehydration or poor posture," says Seema Sridahran, physical therapist with Heartland Rehabilitation Outpatient Services. "Medicine only masks the pain, while physical therapy finds the primary cause and works to alleviate or cure headache and migraine suffering."

Sridahran says a few easy-to-follow steps can alleviate or even cure headaches and migraines:

Step 1: Keep a daily log of your water intake. Sridahrah estimates low hydration levels contribute to a majority of headaches.

Step 2: Check your posture. Pull your belly button toward your spine, pull your shoulder blades together and down, tuck your chin in slightly and let your palms face forward.

Step 3: Engage your core muscles. Pulling the belly button toward the spine and keeping the abdominal muscles engaged helps with postural alignment.

Step 4: Relax. Take several deep breaths, tuck your chin in slightly, and drop your head slowly to one side and hold the stretch for 30 to 45 seconds. Repeat three times for each side, then slowly bend your head to one side then forward and hold for 30 to 45 seconds. These simple stretches release tension at the neck, often a cause of headaches.

For more information, visit heartlandrehab.com