Six Ways for Seniors to Manage Headaches

Almost everyone has had at least one headache during their lives, but seniors might suddenly find themselves battling headaches more often. They can show up because of underlying health issues, as a side effect of medications, or for so many other reasons. Having a helping hand from home care providers allows seniors to have a plan for managing headaches if those are becoming a bigger problem.

Get Underlying Health Issues Under Control

Underlying health issues can be a surprising source of headaches, especially for seniors. Conditions like high blood pressure, diabetes, or sinus infections can exacerbate headaches. Medications for these conditions can also cause headaches as a side effect. It’s important for seniors to talk with their doctors about what they’re experiencing so that they can get to the bottom of what’s happening.

Try to Identify Headache Triggers

If seniors are suddenly experiencing more headaches than they were before, it’s a good idea to start tracking possible headache triggers. Sometimes foods, drinks, environmental factors, and even activities can cause headaches. Keeping a log for a couple of weeks can sometimes help pinpoint some of those triggers. Elder care providers can help seniors to keep track of the information they need to monitor.

Reduce Stress

One common trigger for headaches is stress and seniors are often more stressed than they realize. Reducing stress through activities like deep breathing, meditation, or even progressive muscle relaxation could be helpful. It’s also a good idea to look closer at what is causing stress for seniors and do whatever is possible to eliminate the stress at the source. Sometimes having help from home care providers can do a lot to reduce stress.

Get Plenty of Sleep

Quality sleep is a big part of overall wellness for seniors, so if they’re not getting the sleep they need that needs to change. Seniors should typically aim for seven to nine hours of sleep a night, but the actual amount needed might vary. It’s a good idea to talk to healthcare providers about sleep needs and what changes could help seniors to get better sleep.

Try Activities Like Stretching and Yoga

Physical activity is great for overall health and it can help to reduce the likelihood of experiencing headaches, too. Activities like yoga and gentle stretching can be particularly helpful. As with all new exercises, a doctor should clear aging adults to get moving before they try this out. Other exercises that might help could include walking or swimming because they help improve circulation.

Get Some Help Around the House from Home Care

If seniors are experiencing more headaches than they did in the past, it’s a good idea to get them some more help at home. Senior home care providers can take over daily tasks that are becoming more of a challenge, lightening the load for aging adults. They can also be there to watch for possible signs of what could be contributing to the headaches and help seniors adopt healthy habits to boost overall quality of life.

Headaches are no fun and they can be seriously draining. Being able to rely on solutions like home care providers gives aging adults a chance to focus on what they need to do to feel better more consistently.

Reference

https://www.webmd.com/migraines-headaches/geriatric-headaches

If you or an aging loved one are considering home care in Lyons, KS, please contact the caring staff at Touching Hearts at Home Central Kansas today. Call 620-603-0685.

Touching Hearts at Home Central Kansas is a Trusted Home Care Agency Barton, Dickinson, Edwards, Ellis, Ellsworth, Great Bend, Hutchinson, Larned, Lyons, Marion, McPherson, Newton, Pawnee, Rice, Reno, Salina, Sedgwick, Stafford, and the surrounding areas.