subject: Headaches - How Can Chiropractic Help? [print this page] It seems like everyone gets some kind of headache at some point in their lives, but when the headaches don't go away on their own, they may be more serious. Drugs and medications do a good job of masking the symptoms, but they don't address the underlying cause of the problem.
Many of these severe headaches can be slow to respond to chemical treatment, which, when made strong enough to address the headache, can have negative and potentially lasting consequences on the rest of the body when used over time. This is why many people with chronic head pain look to the more natural (and often more effective) alternative solution of chiropractic.
There Are Different Kinds of Headaches
In order to better treat any type of condition, it is first important to try to understand what is causing the problem. Since there are many different types of headaches, some can be treated better by chiropractic than some of the others. Headaches can be caused by
-changes in constriction of the vascular system
-muscle tension
-sinus congestion
These headaches can refer or radiate pain all over your head and they can feel like they're centered in many different locations, but it is most important to realize that chiropractic seems to work best in the types of headaches that are based around muscle tension and changes to vascular flow. Sinus headaches have also had success, but they are likely to have a more complicated cause.
The three kinds of headaches most often founding chiropractic offices are:
-migraine headaches
-tension headaches
-Cervicogenic headaches (headaches from the neck)
The last kind of headache mentioned can sound a bit scary, but cervicogenic means a headache that is being caused by the bones, muscles, or nerves of neck.
Tension Headaches
When we are stressed, frightened or angry, the bodys normal response is to tense the muscles in our neck, shoulders and head. This reaction is called the fight or flight response. Unfortunately, when situations requiring that fight or flight response arise frequently or the stress is a constant in our lives we can neither run from or fight with, that muscle tension can become a habit.
This can lead to imbalances in the body, which then leads to more muscle tension and pain. Chiropractic care can will relax the tight muscles and realign the spine underneath to end this vicious cycle of pain. Those that are seeking treatment for tension headaches may often see a drastic improvement with just a few spinal adjustments as the nerves become less irritated and the muscles become more relaxed.
Migraine Headaches
Migraine headaches are caused by changes in vascular flow, which can be brought about b a variety of factors such as changes in the weather, hormonal changes, stress, even different smells or foods -- just to name a few. These headaches do not always start as pain, but may begin with nausea or visual auras. The headache can be strong or weak, but most migraine sufferers experience very painful headaches.
Recent research has indicated that chiropractic treatment can reduce the number of migraines a person experiences. By adjusting the neck and spine with chiropractic treatment, you may be able to improve vascular flow and reduce the nerve irritation in the spine.
Treatment Types
Chiropractic treatment centers around the idea of manipulating the spinal column and neck to improve posture and blood flow. To treat a headache, the chiropractor will likely perform an adjustment with his or her hands, but may also use trigger point therapy, massage and other supporting types of treatments to create a holistic approach to the problem. The chiropractor will also likely recommend some stretching exercises and basic changes in posture to help keep things balanced in between visits.
