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Fight Tension Headaches with Facial Stretches

When a tension headache strikes, you may be able to relieve some of the pressure with some facial stretching. Try this: Lift and relax eyebrows. Open both eyes wide and lift both eyebrows, like you’re really surprised. Then relax and let your eyes and eyebrows drop down again. The one-eyebrow salute. This one might take some practice — hold one eyebrow in place with your fingers and lift the other. Then switch! Squint your eyes, then relax. Repeat a few times, then squint one eye at a time, leaving the other relaxed. Try to squeeze your eyes hard enough that … Continue reading →

Combat Migraines With Feverfew

Today I woke up with a migraine. Years ago this wouldn’t have surprised me since I’ve suffered with severe migraines for decades. They started when I was about 14 and peaked during my 20s. Over the years they’ve steadily dissipated, but when they do strike they can put life on hold. Thankfully, I always keep a bottle of the herb feverfew on hand. When I’m awake, it’s easy to tell if one of these headaches is about to strike, since there are some common warning signs. Most sufferers experience one or more of the following pre-migraine symptoms: *Flashing lights that … Continue reading →

Feeling Better

I still have gratitude on my mind (’tis the season, after all!). And right now I’m thinking what a miracle it is to feel good. There are lots of times I don’t. I tend to get tension headaches, so if my day turns stressful (and it often does), I end up with a headache. Mostly, they’re minor, and easily ignored. Sometimes they need an over the counter pain remedy before they hit the road. It’s not a huge deal — but I am used to having some small level of pain in my head at any given time. The days … Continue reading →

Total Fitness Routine: Part I

An all around good and balanced fitness routine contains several aspects for your optimal health outlook. These aspects will cover all areas of your physical strength and health and leave nothing out or “off” balance. By incorporating these in your weekly health fitness routine you will not only look better, but you will feel better.  Stretch your body: Everyone knows that a good fitness routine always begins with stretching. Stretching gives your body a chance to “limber” up and warm those muscles before getting down to the nitty-gritty of exercising. Stretching your muscles also will help to increase your … Continue reading →

Stress and Sickness

A recent article in PARADE Magazine asked if stress can make a person sick. The answer? Yes. More importantly, stress can mess with your normal defenses. In the short term, a little stress can actually be beneficial. Stress can trigger that good old “fight or flight” response, releasing adrenaline into your system to increase strength and stamina. But your body wasn’t designed to function at full alert for long periods of time. Chronic or long-term stress can be bad for you in a number of ways. Stress and your head… as in headaches. With all the “fight or flight” chemicals … Continue reading →

What is a TENS Unit?

One option for managing pain is a TENS unit. TENS stands for transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation… a scary name (electrical what now?) for a helpful therapy. How it works, in brief: electrodes are stuck to the skin in the area where a patient is experiencing pain. The TENS unit delivers an electrical current to the skin and tissues. Intensity of the current can vary; users generally report feeling tingling or pins and needles in the area. Why it works: experts believe that the electrical current disrupts the pain by giving a different sensation to the skin and tissues. The current … Continue reading →