Headaches are unpleasant, whether they are frequent, infrequent, or life-interrupting like migraines. Nobody wants them. Most headache sufferers turn to pain relief medications. Although the medications are effective in suppressing the symptoms, the headache continues to run its marathon in your head. I would recommend that you take a look at what might be causing your headache and not just mask the symptoms with medication.

You don’t get rid of a weed by cutting its branches or tearing off a few leaves; you uproot it! It is the same with all bodily aches and pains associated with disease and other causes. You have to treat the problem as a whole and avoid aimlessly hacking into the symptoms. This is the area of ​​wellness expertise where chiropractic care stands out from other pain relief remedies and headaches specifically.

Understanding Your Headache: Types and Triggers

Depending on whether your headache is caused by underlying medical conditions, a headache can be classified as a primary or secondary headache.

Primary headaches are usually migraines, tension headaches, cervicogenic (characterized by pain on one side of the head), and cluster headaches. 90-95% of all headaches are of the primary type. These are triggered by lifestyle disorders such as stress and muscle tension in the neck, upper back and scalp, insomnia, low blood sugar levels, constant poor posture and a lack of proper movement and exercise.

Secondary headaches are only 5-10% of all headaches experienced by people. They are caused by underlying medical conditions, such as pressure on the brain or skull from tumors or head injuries, and sometimes from infections. These are warning signs of other complications.

Chiropractic intervention for the treatment of headaches

Chiropractors believe that:

– There is a dynamic relationship between lifestyle, environment and health.

– The intimate relationship of the central column and the nervous system and the capacities of the human body.

– The human body has the ability to recover given the help to correct imbalances created by external or internal causes.

When patients present to my office for treatment of headaches, I consider their medical history; ask about your lifestyle, typical daily activities, and diet.

I perform spinal adjustments, specifically in the neck region in the case of cervicogenic headaches, to relieve stress and improve spinal function. I also treat the surrounding muscles that attach to the joints in the spine to take pressure off the joints. Tension headaches also respond well to chiropractic adjustments.

General advice for a life without headaches

– Stay well hydrated – drink plenty of water, avoid diuretic drinks such as alcohol, tea and coffee.

– Moderate exercise is good for everyone; aerobics or walking

– Take breaks for stretching and movement between hours of sedentary work.

– Sleep well and eat non-inflammatory foods.

Headaches are not normal. You don’t have to live with them. With simple lifestyle changes and a chiropractic routine, you can look forward to a headache-free future. As more and more patients approaching chiropractors have discovered, drug therapy is accompanied by side effects over time and treats pain only at the symptom level. The underlying cause remains hidden and triggers recurring headaches.

Today’s surveys and national studies show that patients who undergo chiropractic treatment experience a sustained reduction in the frequency of headaches than patients who take chiropractic medications.