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Anything that bothers your neck is a risk factor for migraines. Migraines affect you ability to think. People that have migraines, migraineurs, have bodies that are more sensitive to light, sound, smell, food, and/or stress. Stressing the neck is not a good thing. Prolonged positioning of the head in a manner that strains the neck can lead to increased migraine activity. Increasing migraines can result in further progression of the migraine syndrome. The migraine syndrome may include headaches, sinus pain, neck pain, temporomandibular joint (TMJ) syndrome, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), palpitations, vertigo, hypoglycemia, panic attacks, and even fibromyalgia.
I cannot emphasize enough the importance of good posture. If you have played in the band or orchestra, sang in a choir, or played the piano, what is the first thing you are instructed to do? Sit up straight! Sit on the edge of the chair or bench and maintain an erect posture. What is an erect posture? Erect posture is not simply straightening up and holding your head up. When a photographer takes your picture, he will tell you to do three things. “Sit up straight, bring your chin down, and smile.” He tells you all three because nobody wants to take a picture of your nose hair. If you are accustomed to slumping over, when you straighten up, your angle of your head and neck does not change much unless you make a conscious effort to change it. Your eyes are level and you think your head is level; however, it is not. Therefore, I recommend practicing in front of a mirror. Hold your head level and maintain the curve in your lower back as well as the curve, as best you can, in your neck. These curves should be pointing toward the front and not curving back.
The easiest way to sit up or stand properly is to imagine a string attached to the apex of your head and it is being pulled upward. The apex of your head is a lot more toward the back than you probably think. It is right above the top of your ear. Now stretch your string attached to the apex of your head and you will find that you will lift up approximately an inch or more. If you are walking with your head in the air like it should be, then you will not drag your feet anymore. You did not know that you were dragging your feet?
It is extremely important to the happiness of your neck to have proper posture. I will try to drive this point home. Frequently, I will ask patients to hold their arm out at 90 degrees. I ask them to leave the arm in that position until I return to the exam room in about 15 minutes. They look at me like I am crazy. They certainly would not be able to hold their arm out for 15 minutes. I will put my hand on their shoulder and tell them that their muscles will get tight and begin to cramp, and that they will not be able to hold their arm out for that long. Then I tell them that their head weighs approximately 15 pounds. When they hold it out like a Ninja turtle instead of a good military posture, it is just like holding the arm out. When they feel like slumping and holding their neck out, they need to hold their arm up and see how long it takes to cramp. They usually get the point.
I strongly encourage you to maintain erect posture for the health of your neck, back, and ultimately your thinking—yes, even your thinking!
J. Wes Tanner, MD is a family practice and headache specialist who has been treating people for about 30 years. He has extensive experience in treating migraines and fibromyalgia with excellent success. In "Doctor, Why Do I Feel This Way?", Dr. Tanner exposes the secrets and myths about fibromyalgia and the migraine syndrome. To find out more, go to www.migrainesyndrome.net. |
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