Bone Chilling Headache
We have been living through freezing temperatures for a much longer time than usual this season and it’s going to last awhile. This type of frigid, cold weather is a big headache in many ways, and there has been a significant increase in patients coming in with headaches – even those that don’t usually have headaches.
There are a number of reasons for this:
- Extremely cold temperatures can actually make the facial and skull bones ache because, there is very little insulation between the skin and the face and skull bones.
- Cold temperatures can also make the muscles in the temples very stiff and achy and can also cause an increase in jaw clenching.
- Breathing in extremely cold air through the nose and mouth can be irritating to the sinuses and throat and lead to headaches, as well.
- Frigid temperatures can stiffen neck and shoulders that are already sore from shoveling snow or driving in these extreme temperatures.
- A problem that we have noticed is that extremely low temperatures can trigger a headache pattern that continues even after temperatures begin to increase.
Here are some remedies to help avoid the effects of cold temperatures:
- Safeguard your scalp muscles against the cold by donning a stocking cap or hat, optionally paired with ear muffs.
- Implement additional measures to shield the neck and base of the skull by strategically layering clothing, mitigating the risk of unnecessary muscle contractions leading to tightness and soreness.
- Opt for thin insulating garments beneath your clothing to minimize the impact of sudden temperature changes, ensuring a more comfortable experience.
- Enhance protection against extreme cold by tucking in T-shirts and shirts into pants, safeguarding the lower back’s skin from exposure.
- Mitigate the risk of muscle spasms, tightness, and fatigue in very cold temperatures by staying adequately hydrated during this season, recognizing the potential for dehydration-induced effects on muscle sensitivity.
The good news is that there are methods and treatments for all of these situations and the issues that may arise from them.
Give us a call today and let us help you get through these chilling seasonal woes!
Scott Donkin, DC, DACBOH, is an internationally published author, chiropractor, lecturer, and consultant who has been in private practice in Lincoln, Nebraska for over twenty-five years.
