Chronic Headaches: Unveiling the Mysteries and Solutions
Understanding the Impact
The majority of office workers, more than 90%, have encountered headaches or migraines. Once a headache arises, it can be agonizing, yet once it fades away, it seems as if nothing occurred. Even after a hospital visit, no specific issue is found, yet these recurring headaches significantly disrupt daily life and work.
The Quest for Relief
Persistent headaches can be extremely vexing. Many individuals resort to painkillers to alleviate head pressure and pain, but these medications often fail to offer a lasting solution. According to Master Bai Yin, utilizing appropriate methods such as practicing HarmonyQi to unblock the body's energy, thus relieving tension and stress, can markedly improve headache symptoms.
1.
Understanding the Underlying Causes
Tension and anxiety play crucial roles in recurring headaches. When headaches or migraines surface, our initial thought is often whether we're coming down with a cold. However, numerous individuals experience periodic, unexplained headaches without cold symptoms. They may even worry about potential strokes or brain tumors.
2.
Differentiating the Types
This recurring pattern of chronic headaches is frequently associated with emotional tension, anxiety, and prolonged stress. Consequently, an increasing number of young people are suffering from chronic headache symptoms. The swift pace of life, high work pressures, and emotional suppression contribute to a perpetual state of nervous tension in the brain.
3.
Techniques for Relief
In reality, most headaches are chronic pain issues. The most common types, tension headaches and migraines, account for over 90%. Physical discomforts like high blood pressure, sinusitis, toothaches, and glaucoma can also induce headaches. Only about 5% of cases may involve concerns such as strokes, brain tumors, ruptured cerebral aneurysms, or meningitis.
Exploring Further
Let's swiftly differentiate four types of headaches:
Occipital Distension Pain:
These are the most prevalent type, affecting approximately 9 out of 10 people. Pain primarily occurs in muscle-rich areas like the back of the neck or temples. Prolonged fixed postures, chronic tension, anxiety, and poor moods can trigger or exacerbate these headaches.
Migraines:
Common migraines are a type of neuropathic pain, implying heightened sensitivity of cranial nerves. They primarily stem from genetic predispositions, with over 60% of patients having a family history, and women are twice as likely as men to experience migraines. Additionally, hormonal fluctuations play a role. Many women experience migraine attacks before and after their menstrual cycles. Stress, emotional tension, lack of sleep, and climate changes may induce pain reactions.
Cervical Spine-Related Headaches:
The majority of headaches are related to spinal issues, particularly headaches and migraines resulting from cervical spine discomfort, which account for a large proportion. Prolonged poor posture, such as incorrect sitting or standing positions, and improper exercise can accelerate cervical spine degeneration. This leads to muscle tension in the neck, cervical joint dislocation, bone spurs, herniated discs, which compress the cervical spinal cord, nerve roots, or vertebral arteries, resulting in pain.
Beware of Sudden-Onset Headaches:
If you experience sudden, severe headaches accompanied by dizziness, nausea, vomiting, blurred vision, drowsiness, or limb weakness, it could be a warning sign of vascular disorders or a precursor to a stroke. Regardless of whether there is a history of high blood pressure or heart disease, this should not be taken lightly; seek medical attention promptly.
A Technique for Relief
One Technique for Muscle Relaxation and Stress Relief:
The human body's Qi and blood circulation pass through the head. From the perspective of Qigong, "when Qi flows, blood flows; when Qi stagnates, blood clots." Emotional stress, anxiety, and tension often lead to qi stagnation and blood clotting, which can trigger headaches.
Tension-related headaches are common among office workers who sit for long hours, especially women aged 40 to 59. Due to prolonged periods of looking down and physical inactivity, Qi and blood circulation are impaired, and the head and neck muscles remain contracted, easily leading to headaches or worsening existing ones.
Master Bai Yin suggests that to address mild tension-type headaches, we must first correct the forward posture of the head to avoid excessive pressure on the neck, shoulders, and back muscles. Additionally, learn to relieve stress - regular massage, heat therapy, and stretching can alleviate symptoms. You can also practice the "Tong Ding" technique (龍擺尾), which can be done at home or in the office. This simple technique adjusts breathing, relaxes the body, loosens tense muscles and joints. Just a few minutes can make you feel the entire body relax as blocked areas are slowly cleared and dredged, effectively relieving stress-induced headaches.
