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Chiropractic & Headaches

Headaches are one of the most common reasons for visiting the doctor. If you are prone to headaches or migraines or even just have one every once in awhile, you know how awful they can be. A headache disrupts your day or night and makes it nearly impossible to concentrate on any task. There are many types and causes of headaches. Muscle tension headaches and migraine headaches are by far the most common types of headaches, but sinus infections and other problems such as high blood pressure can also lead to headaches. Regardless of the cause, if you have a headache, you want it to end, FAST! Learn some of the common causes and read on to see how chiropractic can help alleviate them.

Common Causes of Headaches:

Headaches occur for a reason. A headache is your body's way of signaling you that something is not right. Some of the milder headaches are the result of the problems brought on by excess smoking, drinking or eating. Others may be the indirect symptom of eye strain, improper diet, hunger, poor lighting, excessive noise, constipation, foul air, daily pressures or infection, to name a few. In rare cases, headaches can be attributed to organic conditions such as brain tumors or diabetes. As a chiropractor, our examination process helps identify the most likely cause.

Headaches are a very common condition in patients with chiropractic problems. A cause of headaches can be from spinal bones in the neck that aren't supporting your head properly. This can affect nerves, muscles and even the blood supply to your head. Research has shown that the most common types of headaches respond well to chiropractic care. The vast majority of even the most severe headaches are relieved when spinal subluxations are corrected. The effects that these types of problems have on the nerves, often results in pain in the head.

The greatest majority of primary headaches are associated with muscle tension in the neck. Today, Americans engage in more sedentary activities than in the past, and more hours are spent in one fixed position or posture (such as sitting in front of a computer). This can increase joint irritation and muscle tension in the neck, upper back and scalp, causing your head to ache.

Can headaches be a serious medical problem?

A headache is no stranger to most people. Some headaches may be mild but annoying, localized pain that may be attributed to one or more of a variety of causes. Chronic, recurring headaches, which can be the most serious, are of two major types: migraine and tension. These may be frequent and intense, and may involve the severe throbbing, nausea, irritability and sensitivity to bright light common to the migraine headache. These headaches can be debilitating. They can affect the vision and bodily functions, bring on pain and sensation elsewhere in the body and even change moods and personality. To find relief, if only temporary, the American public pours out millions of dollars a year for headache remedies.

This has produced a huge market for medications that cover up the symptoms of headaches. Powerful drugs can numb your nervous system so the pain doesn't register. While these approaches may be convenient, they can cause adverse effects and kidney or liver damage. Worse, they don't correct the underlying cause of the headache.

What can a Chiropractor do for my headaches?

Doctors of Chiropractic recognize that a headache is the body's warning alarm that pain may also be attributed to muscle tension and irritation of the nerves and blood vessels in the neck. The seven cervical vertebrae can become misaligned from excessive physical and emotional stress. This misalignment can irritate the nerve roots in the neck and may even cause minor constriction in some vessels which supply blood and minor constriction in some vessels which supply blood to the brain. When this happens, a headache can strike once, twice, and again and again. If not cared for, more serious symptoms may develop.

Chiropractic doctors locate areas of the spine that aren't moving properly. They notice spinal curves. They look at your posture and your ability to turn and bend. The chiropractor is also trained to recognize the signs of rare problems that may require immediate medical attention.

Your Doctor of Chiropractic will perform a special spinal examination to determine whether the symptoms may be alleviated by chiropractic care. The examination can determine whether the headache may be caused, or aggravated by any misaligned vertebrae in the spine, a condition known as a subluxation, which may be creating undue nerve interference.

Chiropractic care may help prevent unnecessary tension and/or irritation in the neck and head. In some instances, chiropractic adjustments can provide immediate relief for headache victims. Every headache victim is an individual case and may require special instructions or recommendations from their chiropractor. Headaches may be common, but they're not normal. Every headache has a cause. If we're unable to find and correct the cause of your headaches, we can refer you to other specialists who may be able to help. Your health is our only goal.

How long will it take for my headaches go away?

Some patients enjoy results quickly. Others notice a slow decline in their symptoms after several weeks or longer of chiropractic care. It's impossible to predict. If you've had chronic headaches for many years, improvement can take time.

Chiropractic isn't an aspirin! Repeated visits, even when you're feeling better, can help retrain and strengthen the muscles that support our spine. Just as it takes more than one or two workouts in the gym to get in shape, it takes time for your spine to heal.

What can I do to ease the pain?

-If you spend a large amount of time in one fixed position, such as in front of a computer, on a sewing machine, typing or reading, try to stop and take a break and stretch every 30 minutes to one hour. The stretches should take your head and neck through a comfortable range of motion.

-Low-impact exercise may help relieve the pain associated with primary headaches. However, if you are prone to dull, throbbing headaches, avoid heavy exercise. Engage in such activities as walking and low-impact aerobics.

-Avoid teeth clenching. The upper teeth should never touch the lowers, except when swallowing. This results in stress at the temporomandibular joints (TMJ) – the two joints that connect your jaw to your skull – leading to TMJ irritation and a form of tension headaches.

-Drink at least eight 8-ounce glasses of water a day to help avoid dehydration, which can lead to headaches.

-People often consume over-the-counter pain pills to alleviate headaches, but you may be able to help relieve pain without medication by applying some simple common sense methods. Consider these guidelines for possible temporary relief:

-Apply an ice pack or cold compress to the affected area which may numb and help alleviate the pain.

-Apply heat to the shoulder and/or neck muscles to help relax the muscles.

-Gently massage the back of the neck periodically to help reduce stress and discomfort.

-Lie down to rest in a quiet atmosphere with 1 rolled up towel or small pillow supporting the neck without pushing the head forward.

-Immediately avoid bright lights and noise.

-Essential oils serve as headache treatments because they safely and effectively treat the headache trigger, getting to the root of the problem instead of minimizing the pain temporarily.The use and application of essential oils can help you get relief from your headaches. Peppermint, Eucalyptus, Spearmint, Lavender and Roman Chamomile are the most popular oils to use.

What can I do to help prevent headaches?

-Maintain good posture to help reduce misalignments in the bones of the neck.

-Seek to avoid situations of pressure and tension that can bring on a headache.

-Find time to take periods of rest to relax, close your eyes, breathe some fresh air and even take a brisk walk.

-Avoid getting overtired to the point of exhaustion.

-Exercise regularly to stimulate the circulation of blood to the head and to maintain neuromusculoskeletal flexibility.

-Avoid too little or too much sleep, which can be contributing factors to headaches.

-Don't sleep on your stomach. Try to sleep on your back or on your side with you head supported so that it is level with your spine. A cervical pillow is best!

-Don't overindulge in food or drink, and don't smoke.

So, if you know of anyone who suffers from headaches, help them to get off the drugs (which can cause many side effects) and get into see a chiropractor. They will thank you for it. Call Bettendorf Chiropractic at 563-359-5600 to schedule your appointment today!!