Preventing Screen-Induced Headaches and Migraines: Is It Possible?

This article looks at how screens can cause headaches and migraines, the warning signs to watch for, how to treat these headaches, and tips to prevent them from happening.

Is Excessive Screen Time Leading to Headaches and Migraines?

Yes, too much screen time can cause headaches and migraines. Here's how it happens:

A 2015 study found that young adults who spent a lot of time on screens, like computers, tablets, smartphones, and TV, were more likely to get migraines. The study involved 4,927 participants, and those who used screens for more than 2 hours a day were more likely to report having migraines.

Staring at screens for too long can also cause eye strain, known as computer vision syndrome or digital eye strain syndrome. This can lead to headaches, dry eyes, neck pain, and blurred vision, especially headaches behind the eyes.

The symptoms of a screen headache are similar to regular headaches or migraines but may include additional issues from screen use:

Migraine Symptoms:

• Pulsing and throbbing pain in the temples or on the side, front, or back of the head
• Increased sensitivity to light and sound
• Nausea
• Seeing shapes, bright spots, or flashes

Screen Headache Symptoms:

• Headache behind the eyes
• Eye strain
• Blurry vision
• Tight neck and shoulder muscles
• Dry eyes
• Sensitivity to light

If a screen headache triggers a migraine, you may experience all these symptoms.

Preventing Screen-Induced Headaches and Migraines: Tips and Strategies

If you get a headache from looking at screens, you'll need to treat the pain. But if you take steps to prevent these headaches, you can stop or lessen the pain before it starts.

Here are some tips to avoid headaches and migraines from screen time.

Adjust the Lighting:

The bright light from your monitor combined with your room's lighting can cause eye strain and headaches. To prevent this, keep your room lighting balanced with your monitor's brightness. Also, try to position your screen to avoid glare.

Take Frequent Breaks:

Give your eyes regular breaks to prevent strain and headaches. The American Optometric Association suggests the 20-20-20 rule: every 20 minutes, look at something 20 feet away for 20 seconds.

Keep the Right Distance:

To avoid eye strain, keep your monitor at least 20 to 25 inches away from your eyes.

Use Blue Light Glasses:

Blue light glasses might help reduce headaches from screens. They are affordable and worth a try, even though research is still uncertain.

Try a Screen Protector:

If screen glare is bothering you, consider using an anti-glare screen protector.

Use Paper for Long Documents:

For lengthy documents, printing them out can reduce screen time and eye strain, although it's not the most eco-friendly option.

Upper Cervical Chiropractic for Migraines

Upper cervical chiropractic (UCC) is a special type of chiropractic care that focuses on the top part of the spine, where your head meets your neck. This area is important because it includes the brainstem and many nerves that control various body functions, including those related to migraines.

The idea behind upper cervical chiropractic is that if this part of the spine is out of alignment, it can affect how the nervous system works, which might lead to migraines. UCC practitioners believe that by gently and precisely adjusting the upper cervical spine, they can help improve nerve function and overall health.

To do this, UCC practitioners use specific tools and techniques to find and correct misalignments. Unlike traditional chiropractic adjustments, which can be forceful, UCC adjustments are very gentle and focused on the upper cervical spine. This gentle approach aims to reduce nerve irritation and improve communication between the brain and body, which might help relieve migraine symptoms.

Takeaway

Extended screen use often leads to headaches and migraines. If you're spending more than 2 hours looking at screens, try these tips to prevent them: adjust the lighting, use screen protectors, and take breaks often.

Upper cervical chiropractic care provides a new and effective way to manage headaches and migraines by focusing on the alignment of the upper neck spine. This approach aims to restore balance to the nervous system, improve blood flow, and reduce muscle tension. By doing so, it can significantly relieve migraine symptoms. As research progresses, it's becoming clearer that upper cervical chiropractic care holds promise as a treatment for migraines, giving hope to those looking for alternatives to conventional therapies.

Disclaimer: 

Dr. Berner does not diagnose, treat, or prevent any medical diseases or conditions; instead, he analyzes and corrects the structure of his patients with Foundational Corrections to improve their overall quality of life. He works with their physicians, who regulate their medications. This blog post is not designed to provide medical advice, professional diagnosis, opinion, treatment, or services to you or any other individual. The information provided in this post or through linkages to other sites is not a substitute for medical or professional care. You should not use the information in place of a visit, consultation, or the advice of your physician or another healthcare provider. Foundation Chiropractic and Dr. Brett Berner are not liable or responsible for any advice, the course of treatment, diagnosis, or any other information, services, or products you obtain through this article or others.