How to Eliminate Headaches While you Sleep

The easier it is to find a medical treatment, the better – a common theory among sufferers of all kinds. When in place, colds could be met with as little resistance as possible, invasive procedures would be kept at a minimum, and meanwhile, everyone would be feeling their best without nasty or uncomfortable side effects. Unfortunately, that can’t be said for a large portion of illnesses that affect the population.

Headaches, however, are one cause that fits the bill.

Headaches and One of Their Main Causes

A majority of headaches and subsequent neck pain stems from the way we sleep each night. From craning or placing awkward pressure on the head and neck, ongoing aches occur and create regular headaches. Though certain positions might be comfortable during sleep (whether in general or from one’s level of relaxation), they can actually cause pains throughout the day. Additionally, a lack of neck support can cause pressure, affect blood flow, or even cause vertebrae to become misaligned. All of these things then contribute to head pain, whether in one night or a gradual increase over time.

While it can be hard to know just how we sleep in throughout the night, a new, supportive pillow can offer ongoing relief. Even without a sleep study. Look to a pillow with neck support, memory foam, and gentle cradling – all of which align the spine in a natural position. Over time, this will reduce headaches and create a healthier sleeping pattern. Many notice results in just one night.

Talk to your doctor about specific headaches or how a pillow change might affect or accompany ongoing treatments. For the rare headache patient, however, a simple change in support levels can do wonders for their daily routine.

To learn more about supportive pillows, talk to a specialist or check out the selection at Contour Living’s pillow page.

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Is Your Purse Causing Back Pain?

Carrying a purse – of any size – can be a convenient perk. It holds all your things in one, easy-to-find-location, it ensures belongings are organized in close proximity, and you can even use it to stash away smaller purchased items. But no matter the size or weight of your bag, it could actually be causing excess pains. Because of the weight and repetitive nature of carrying a shoulder bag, it’s a practice that might actually cause more harm than good.

Here’s why:

When wearing a purse, the body is lopsided, causing muscles to tighten or strain in certain areas. And the heavier the bag, the more weight it’s pulling on the neck or shoulders. Basically, the more a bag is used, the worse the side effects will become.

This carrying practice also causes the body to walk in an uncomfortable position. Naturally, legs and arms swing to help regulate pace and stride – known as a gait. However, weighing down one-side causes an uneven swing in either the upper or lower sections of the body, if not both. Over time, this can lead to uneven muscles and posture. For instance, one who’s right-handed will keep their purse on the right shoulder, which can mean more developed muscles on that side, less of a swing when walking, and a shoulder that sits higher than the other.

Next comes tightness in the muscles carrying extra weight, or even spasms. The neck, upper, and middle sections of the back can all be affected, suffering bouts of pain or even recurring conditions, such as arthritis. Severe cases of purse-induced pain can even come with tension headaches, which are also brought on by muscle strains, as well as frequent lifting required with purse toting. [Huffington Post]

If you suffer from back pain, it may be time to consider your purse-carrying habits. Lighten the load or talk to your doctor today for healthier walking habits.

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Can Sleeping Habits Cause Headaches?

For most, sleeping is a time meant for both resting and relaxation. It’s comfy, a necessity, and often a treat at the end of a long day. Sleeping also allows bodies to recharge and gear up for new activities, while giving the brain a much needed break. If un-restful, however, it’s possible to wake up feeling tired, groggy, or in pain. All from not getting the proper amount of rest.

One of the most common post-sleep complaints are headaches. Despite having given the body the sleep it needs, people can still wake with head pain. For some, it can even become a chronic condition, greatly affecting their work and personal lives.

But what’s the cause? Can sleep – when interrupted – actually cause more health problems than it helps prevent? How can something meant for rest work against one’s health?  

Possible Headache Triggers

There are various stages of sleep, and waking in the middle may interrupt the brain from producing “feel good” chemicals, such as serotonin and dopamine. These chemicals work to put the body in balance through health and attitude. But when woken too early, these levels can get out of whack, possibly leading to migraines or other milder headaches. The level of each headache can depend on a person’s specific chemical balance, their sleeping habits, and more. [WebMD]

As for sleeping with three pillows, or with one’s head in a jackknife position – that’s probably not helping pain levels either. Necks are sensitive areas, and straining them for long periods of time – even if it’s “comfortable” can cause pain later on. This fix could be as simple as purchasing a new pillow that offers better support for the head or neck.

However, with chronic or frequent headaches, it’s always important to talk to a doctor about what could be causing the pain. Between their expertise and the proper sleeping equipment, rest-induced headaches can be greatly reduced.

Ready for that new bed pillow?  Take a look at our Contour Cloud Pillow - It's our best selling bed pillow!

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New Cold TherapyNeck Pillow for Headache Relief

We just added this product to our Contour Living store:





Headache Relief Pillow by Core Products

• Helps relieve headaches and neck stiffness.
• Help for Migraines and Tension Headaches
• Medically accepted cold therapy plus Clinically proven.
• Designed to support your neck and head in their most natural positions
• Great for travel.

This is an innovative design from Core Products, combining cold (ice pack) therapy with a neck pillow. It's very effective at relieving neck tension and stress and reduces the pain associated with headaches.

Now you can treat headaches using a natural and proven alternative to drugs or medication. The Headache Ice Pillo uses time-honored and medically recommended cold therapy in treating dull, moderate and severe headaches,like migraine and tension headaches.
Designed by a Headache Specialist

See the Headache Relief Pillow Here

This pillow uses a unique, compact design to help relieve headaches by providing support to your neck while sleeping or resting. An anatomically designed, soft-frozen gel pack can be inserted into the pillow for added relief. Great for travel, reading or sleeping, this pillow also can provide relief from pinched nerves, stiffness, sprains, neck injuries or other traumas. The gel pack stores in your freezer until needed.

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Headache Types Explained

Close to 90% of the population will suffer from some type of headache during the year. The good news is that about 95% of all headaches are just that - headaches - in that they are not caused by some type of underlying condition. Only about 5% of all headaches fall under the category of secondary, meaning that they are caused by another condition such as sinusitis, meningitis, brain tumors, etc.

Tension headaches account for about 85% of all headaches. Pain usually centers around the back of the neck and on the scalp, and is generally considered mild to moderate. Contrary to popular belief, men and women suffer from tension headaches at an equal rate, and the pain can last for just a few hours or up to a full day.

Migraine headaches are the second most common primary headache, and they affect women more often than they do men. Pain ranges from mild to debilitating, and often is concentrated on one side of the head, sometimes behind the eye, although the pain can shift from side to side. Symptoms can also include changes in vision, such as seeing spots, nausea, vomiting, and sensitivity to light and sound. If headaches occur frequently, it is advisable to seek professional help, as over the counter medications are often not effective in targeting these types of headaches.

The least common and most painful type of primary headache is the dreaded Cluster. The name is appropriate since the pain occurs in clusters that can last for a few minutes to a few hours, at least once a day for several weeks/months, often at the same time of day. Men are affected more often than women, and those who smoke and/or drink heavily are at greater risk. Symptoms of cluster headaches are unusual as well and include red, watery or swollen eyes, facial swelling and nasal congestion. Cluster headaches also have a tendency to strike a few hours into one's sleep.

There are many different "triggers" for headaches, ranging from environmental factors such as weather and air quality, foods, food additives and posture. Since it can be difficult to determine the cause of your headaches, it might be useful to keep a headache journal. Note the time of day your headache begins, the duration, any pain relievers taken, what you ate, where you were and what you were doing.

Meanwhile, an easy fix is simply to ensure that you are maintaining proper posture both during the day and at night. Poor posture for even brief periods can directly result in headaches and related problems. Contour Living is a leader in the comfort and support industry and provides many products designed to alleviate these problems.

Contour is the brand leader in ergonomic products designed specifically for comfort and support. Products include support pillows and back and bed wedge cushions and more. Visit Contour Living for more information on solutions to improve posture, sleep better, correct support problems and live more comfortably.

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Different Types of Headaches

Close to 90% of the population will suffer from some type of headache during
the year. The good news is that about 95% of all headaches are just that -
headaches - in that they are not caused by some type of underlying condition.
Only about 5% of all headaches fall under the category of secondary, meaning
that they are caused by another condition such as sinusitis, meningitis, brain
tumors, etc.

Tension headaches account for about 85% of all headaches. Pain usually
centers around the back of the neck and on the scalp, and is generally
considered mild to moderate. Contrary to popular belief, men and women suffer
from tension headaches at an equal rate, and the pain can last for just a few
hours or up to a full day.

Migraine headaches are the second most common primary headache, and they
affect women more often than they do men. Pain ranges from mild to debilitating,
and often is concentrated on one side of the head, sometimes behind the eye,
although the pain can shift from side to side. Symptoms can also include changes
in vision, such as seeing spots, nausea, vomiting, and sensitivity to light and
sound. If headaches occur frequently, it is advisable to seek professional help,
as over the counter medications are often not effective in targeting these types
of headaches.

The least common and most painful type of primary headache is the dreaded
Cluster. The name is appropriate since the pain occurs in clusters that can last
for a few minutes to a few hours, at least once a day for several weeks/months,
often at the same time of day. Men are affected more often than women, and those
who smoke and/or drink heavily are at greater risk. Symptoms of cluster
headaches are unusual as well and include red, watery or swollen eyes, facial
swelling and nasal congestion. Cluster headaches also have a tendency to strike
a few hours into one's sleep.

There are many different "triggers" for headaches, ranging from environmental
factors such as weather and air quality, foods, food additives and posture.
Since it can be difficult to determine the cause of your headaches, it might be
useful to keep a headache journal. Note the time of day your headache begins,
the duration, any pain relievers taken, what you ate, where you were and what
you were doing.

Meanwhile, an easy fix is simply to ensure that you are maintaining proper
posture both during the day and at night. Poor posture for
even brief periods can directly result in headaches and related problems.
Contour Living is a leader in the comfort and support industry and provides many
products designed to alleviate these problems.

Contour is the brand leader in ergonomic products designed specifically for comfort and support. Products include support pillows, wedge cushions, and more. Visit Contour Living
for more information on solutions to improve posture, sleep better, correct support problems and live more comfortably.

Continue Reading