Headaches are one of the most common reasons people visit a doctor. There are many different types of headaches as well as different causes, but the most common are migraine and muscle tension headaches. Other causes include sinus infection and high blood pressure.
Because headaches are so pervasive throughout the population, pain killers are a lucrative market. However, whether they are over-the-counter or prescription pain killers, they only mask or numb the nervous system so you don’t feel the pain. Many people turn to chiropractic care to treat headaches caused by misalignment of muscles, bones, and nerves.
When a spinal bone or vertebra is misaligned, it is not correctly positioned with the other spinal bones. It may press on nerves that exit the spine, causing interference in the messages that are sent from the brain to the muscles and soft tissue. This may be one cause of chronic headaches.
Spinal manipulation is the primary form of care provided by chiropractic doctors, and has been shown to be an effective treatment for primary headaches such as headaches that originate in the neck and tension headaches.
After a thorough consultation, the first step the chiropractic doctor will take is to perform an adjustment that may improve the spinal function and relieve the stress that your body is feeling. Clinical studies have shown that this type of treatment gives almost immediate relief for tension headaches that have their source in the neck. There are few if any side effects and it is a much safer treatment than prescription pain killers.
Along with adjustments, other treatments can be provided that help relieve tension headaches including:
• Nutritional advice for a diet that reduces stress
• Vitamins that help reduce stress
• Techniques to maintain proper posture
• Exercises that may strengthen muscles and reduce strain in the neck
• Information about how to recognize headache triggers
Triggers that cause headaches can be avoided if they are recognized. It may take some time, but you will be able to see a connection between certain things and your headache.
Here are some of the most common triggers:
• Loud or irritating noise
• Bright lights
• Stressful situations
• Insomnia
• Too much exercise
• Rise or fall in blood sugar
Some headaches are warning signs of other physical problems. However, tension headaches, cluster headaches, and migraine headaches are known as primary headaches, and they are the problem themselves and not caused by disease.
To avoid primary headaches you can:
• Stay hydrated by drinking enough water throughout the day
• Move for 10 minutes every hour if you sit at a computer, sewing machine or desk most of the day
• Walk at least 20 minutes every day
• Don’t clench your teeth. This can cause stress where the jaw bone connects to the skull and cause tension headaches
If you suffer from primary headaches, you may get long-term relief from chiropractic care. At La Grange Chiropractic, our chiropractic doctor will manipulate your spine to relieve the pressure and stress that causes headaches. Contact us today to schedule an appointment. You deserve relief from pain that chiropractic care can provide.