Headaches and migraines can be extremely painful and interrupt daily activities; the level of severity oftentimes makes you unable to function. Let chiropractic care be the solution. Chiropractic care has a long history of treating headaches and migraines. Chiropractors have extensive knowledge of small issues occurring in the spine that have a connection with the rest of the nervous system, making them the experts when it comes to identifying the source of pain.
Classifications of Headaches
When it comes to headaches, the severity of pain can range from mild to agonizing pain that may even cause nausea. Headaches can be classified into two categories: primary and secondary.
Primary Headache
Includes tension-type, migraine, cervicogenic, and cluster headaches and are not typically caused by underlying medical conditions.
Secondary Headache
Results from other medical conditions, such as infection or increased pressure in the skull due to a growth.
Majority of all headaches (more than 95%) are classified as primary headaches, meaning that they are not caused by a disease. The types of primary headaches are tension/cervicogenic, migraines, or cluster headaches.
Tension/Cervicogenic Headaches
The greatest majority of primary headaches are cervicogenic headaches. These originate from disorders of the neck and are recognized as a pain in the head. Cervical headaches are often precipitated by neck movement and/or sustained awkward head positioning. Hours spent in one fixed position or posture (such as sitting in front of a computer) can increase joint irritation, ultimately causing your head to ache.
Migraines
Migraines affect 25 to 30 million people in the United States. Often, people will feel a migraine “coming on” with sensitivity to sound and light. Migraines are headaches that may last anywhere from 4-72 hours and are accompanied by potential disability. Other symptoms include throbbing pain, nausea (sometimes vomiting), disturbance in vision, and pain that is aggravated by physical activity.
Cluster Headaches
Cluster headaches are much more common in men than in women. They are often felt around the eyes or temporal regions. Before the headache symptoms, patients often get congestions, facial sweating, and red eyes. These can last for 15-180 minutes and cause sharp, stabbing pain. While the exact cause is unknown, cluster headache patterns suggest abnormalities in the body’s biological clock. Alcohol can also affect cluster headaches.
Why Chiropractic Care?
While over the counter drugs and prescription medications mask the pain, a chiropractor may be able to treat a headache at the source. A chiropractor may perform the following if you are suffering from headaches:
Spinal Manipulation
If it is suspected that your headaches are being caused by neck pain, a spinal adjustment may improve spinal function and alleviate the stress on your entire system.
Nutritional Advice
Changes in diet and supplementation can help people who suffer from chronic headaches.
Additional Lifestyle Advice
A chiropractic may offer advice on posture, ergonomics (work postures), exercise, and relaxation techniques that can all relieve the recurring joint irritation and tension in the muscles of the neck and upper back, ultimately causing you to have fewer headaches.
Schedule your Chiropractic Migraine Consultation
No matter how severe your headaches or migraines may be and no matter what the cause may be, chiropractic is an excellent, non-invasive way to treat chronic head pain.
Dr. Sam and Active Life Chiropractic have serviced Columbia and the Mid-Missouri area for years. Contact us today at (573) 999-7805 or fill out our online form for a free consultation!
