Headaches are a fact of life for most people. In fact, they are the most common neurological complaint and tension and migraine headaches are the top two types of headaches. Even though most people do not seek medical treatment for their headaches, they can be debilitating and disruptive to everyday activities.
Headaches and Treatment Options
Tension headaches are often caused by lack of sleep, stress and lifestyle issues. In many cases, a tension headache can be treated with over-the-counter medications, such as acetaminophen and ibuprofen. Reducing stress and muscle relaxing exercises can also help.
Migraines are entirely different. Very often, migraines are caused by altered brain waves that are similar to those seen when a person is having a seizure. Medical treatments for migraines often involve medications specifically targeting altering migraine symptoms and pain.
Neurofeedback is another option for treating pain associated with all types of headaches and chronic pain in general. It is non-invasive and can be learned by almost anyone. Training for neurofeedback involves learning how to play a computer game using your brain waves. Patients learn how to control their brain waves while they are playing the game. As they learn how to produce calm brain patterns, they are rewarded in the game and the brain learns how to regulate itself and reduce the impact and intensity of painful headaches.
Neurofeedback has long been used as a successful pain management technique for people with chronic pain conditions. For many people, using feedback methods is a much more desirable approach than popping a pill when they get a headache.
– The Alternative Daily