From annoying discomfort to debilitating pain, headaches can be thoroughly disruptive. Fortunately, massage can help bring relief to headache sufferers.
According to the National Headache Foundation, over 45 million Americans suffer from chronic, recurring headaches, costing industry an estimated 50 billion dollars per year due to absenteeism and medical expenses. Over 4 billion dollars is spent annually on over-the-counter remedies, many of which prove ineffective. At best, drugs mask the pain but do little to address the cause of the problem.
There are several types of headaches, including tension, sinus, migraine, and cluster, with tension headaches comprising about 90 percent of the total.
Tension headaches are caused by stress, anxiety, fatigue or anger and are felt in the head and neck region. Both migraine and cluster headaches are believed to be caused by chemical reactions in the brain. Migraines can be triggered by certain foods, hormonal changes, weather and stress. Sinus headaches are usually brought about by an allergic reaction or an infection.
Studies conducted by the Touch Research Institute have shown that both migraine and tension headaches respond well to massage. Benefits from the migraine study included more headache-free days, better sleep, less anxiety, and an increase in serotonin levels. With massage shown to get this kind of results, doesn’t it make sense that regular massage sessions could help to lessen the onset of headaches?
If you are bothered with headaches, please be sure to bring it up at your next session so we can see what can be done to get you some relief.
