More than 1,000,000 people in Britain may be suffering from constant, crippling headaches because they are taking too many painkillers.

The pills people take to relieve headaches and migraines may be making things much worse, according to the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (Nice) in guidance to the health service for England and Wales.

As many as one in 50 people suffer continual headaches because of “medication overuse”, NICE reports. The problem begins with taking the odd painkiller for tension headaches or migraines, which usually works. But some people take the pills more and more often, until they are on tablets for more than half the days in a month. If this goes on for more than three months, the medication can end up causing the problem it is intended to cure.

Look at the alternatives before you pop another pill

So what alternatives are there to continually popping pills? Tim Chapman, Osteopath, says that “some people find it hard to relax and probably don’t realize how tense they are. Those suffering from tension-type headache might find that regular, gentle exercise – such as yoga, Pilates, swimming and walking – will almost certainly help.  Headaches  may also caused by stiffness or restrictions of the neck. Osteopaths look to find the cause of tensions or stiffness and seek to relieve it by helping the body achieve more mobility and flexibility.”

Other lifestyle factors

Poor posture at a desk or tiredness can lead to tension-type or neck related headaches. Osteopaths look to relieve this tension and give advice on posture and exercises to do to help prevent the tension or stiffness from building up; for example, recommending regular breaks from sitting at a computer desk for long periods of time or prolonged driving.

Any persistent or sudden severe headache should always be checked by a GP first.

contact us

To find out more about how one of our Osteopath could help you resolve your headache, contact us today.