Headaches… that annoying pain in the neck? Headaches are an issue that we see every single day in our office and are the most common reason people use over-the-counter medications. They can be caused by a variety of factors including stress and tension, improper posture, dehydration, or nutritional imbalances. Headaches are one of the most debilitating problems that lead to missed work and wages for both the employee and employer. Migraines specifically are the 6th most disabling illness in the world creating a negative impact on quality of life for those who suffer from them. What kind of headache do you have and is there anything you can do about it?
Tension Headaches
Tension headaches are the most common type of headache. These headaches appear during times of stress. They are characterized by a squeezing band around the head especially, around the temples or the back of the head and neck, which get worse in the afternoon or evening. These usually occur often, and can last for days, or even weeks. Although these headaches are typically manageable by using over the counter medications long-term use of these medications may lead to issues with the digestive tract. These headaches are greatly reduced through treatment of chiropractic adjustments in combination with massage in our office. The massage helps to loosen up the tightened muscles and relieve tension. The specific chiropractic adjustment to the neck helps to correct mis-alignments that may have occurred due to stress and muscles straining. It is important to make sure you get adequate sleep and relaxation time if you get regular tension headaches.
Migraine Headaches
The latest research is suggesting that migraines are actually a neurological disorder. It is unknown what causes migraines, but they tend to run in families, are more common in females, and involve the nerves and brain. Migraines contain some unique symptoms including: severe, throbbing pain usually presenting on one side of the head; sensitivity to sound or light; nausea or vomiting; dizziness; visual disturbances (often known as an aura); and other neurological symptoms such as numbness and tingling are possible. They can last anywhere from 4 to 72 hours and have episodes of occurrence. Chiropractic adjustments to the neck can be beneficial because they target the spine and nervous system. If you have tried other treatments or medications without success try chiropractic. It is a non-invasive way to treat these disabling headaches. Nutritional supports including feverfew, 5-HTP(5-Hydroxytryptophan), omega-3’s, calcium and vitamin D, riboflavin, and a multivitamin containing magnesium, B2 (riboflavin), and B6 can be helpful to relieve migraines as well .
Cervicogenic Headache
Cervicogenic headaches are classified as daily headaches that have corresponding neck pain and reduction in the range of motion in the individual’s neck. There are no other associated neurological symptoms. The headache may increase with certain movements of the neck and have tenderness or tightness in the muscles of the surrounding areas. Chiropractic adjustments of the neck can free up the restriction in the joints of the cervical spine (neck) relieving the pain by allowing better movement of the structures involved. Massage of the soft tissues surrounding the area is beneficial.
Note: There are additional types of headaches but these three are common. We treat them every day and we are confident that chiropractic care using gentle and specific techniques, coupled with massage can help alleviate these conditions. Call our office Hartville Health and Wellness Centre at 330-877-3177 to schedule an appointment today!
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