San Francisco, Marin, and Oakland, CA
Are you a gamer? Do you want to explore the most common causes of headaches and how we can provide relief at Glen Park Dental, San Francisco’s neuromuscular dentists? In this article, don’t ignore them – the headaches you often experience when playing video games. Playing games can have an unintended consequence – it can ruin your headache-a-day. Do video games represent a multi-billion dollar industry?
What causes a video game headache?
Taking regular breaks from the video game and staying hydrated can help prevent headaches. These two conditions, dehydration and fatigue, are commonly known as the main causes of headaches when playing video games. That’s why it’s important to drink plenty of water and take breaks from the game.
Motion sickness – Some games have a rapid and repetitive change in perspective, which may impact your body’s perception of motion. Although you may be physically stationary, your eyes may perceive movement, resulting in symptoms such as dizziness, nausea, and headaches. To alleviate these symptoms, it is recommended to limit your gaming sessions and ensure that you are playing in a well-lit environment. Additionally, taking an over-the-counter remedy for motion sickness, like Dramamine, can provide relief.
Seizures, which are not always obvious, can occur at various times without the person experiencing them being aware. If you love someone with epilepsy, a headache can be a sign of an impending seizure. Even watching TV or playing certain video games could potentially trigger a seizure, as flashing lights can be a trigger for people with epilepsy who have photosensitivity.
It is estimated that more than 10 million Americans are affected by the silent epidemic of TMJ disorder, with many never getting diagnosed or treated. If you’re clenching your jaw, it could be causing stress to the muscles in your head and neck, which can then radiate to cause headaches. TMJ disorder actually leads to stress headaches, especially for gamers. TMJ disorder refers to any condition that affects the function of the temporomandibular joint, which connects your jaw to the side of your skull and controls the ability to open and close your jaws.
Treating TMJ Headaches in San Francisco
If you are experiencing any common symptoms of TMJ disorder, such as clicking or popping sounds when you open and close your jaws, chipped or cracked teeth, jaw pain, or any other common symptoms, especially if you are experiencing frequent headaches during or after playing video games, you should schedule a consultation with a dentist at Glen Park Dental. It is possible that the TMJ disorder could be the cause of your symptoms. The symptoms of the disorder, such as headaches, can also worsen over time. If you do not receive treatment, the condition will only get worse.
Our dental staff includes multiple neuromuscular dentists. This is a specialized field of dental science dedicated to the alignment of orofacial muscles. A dentist who specializes in this field uses unique training to identify and provide relief for cases of TMJ disorder. Find out more by calling (415) 585-1500 to make an appointment today.
Glen Park Dental takes pride in providing dental services to patients in San Francisco, Oakland, and Marin in California.