Headaches and Chiropractic Care: Knowing When to Seek Treatment

If you frequently suffer from headaches or migraines, you are not alone.It is believed that as many as nine out of ten Americans have suffered from headaches.





Some people have headaches only 2-3 times per year and they are not severe, and often self-limiting. This is considered normal.However, most people have recurring headaches which are often severe and affecting their normal daily habits, despite taking medications. For these individuals, treatment options should be explored. For anyone having a headache which is new in the manner in which it feels, or presents, diagnosis from a health care professional is necessary to rule out anything serious.If any symptoms occur along with the headache, professional examination is necessary.





Headaches and Chiropractic Care: Headache Types





More than 90% of all occurring headaches can be classified within the following types:





Tension Headaches: These types of headaches occur most frequently.Sufferers experience mild to moderate pain on either side, back or front of the head, and describe the sensations as "constricting" and "stiff," along with the sensation that something is pressing tightly against the head.





Migraine Headaches: Migraines occur periodically, and are severe, throbbing, and very painful headaches. Migraine headaches afflict less people than tension headaches. They are usually more common for women than men, with pain focused on one side of the head.These headaches cause appetite loss, vomiting and nausea.Sometimes sufferers experience vision changes, or "auras".





Cluster Headaches: Cluster headaches are less common than tension headaches, but very painful and experienced mostly by men.The symptoms include brief, painful headaches that last over a period of days to weeks.Pain is experienced in the region of the eye.Sufferers often experience nasal congestion.





Sinus Headaches: These occur when sinuses become inflamed as a result of an allergic reaction, an infection or sickness.The inflammation prevents mucous outflow and causes pain similar to that of a headache. Sinus headache sufferers experience pain in their cheekbones, forehead, across the bridge of the nose, and sometimes along with fever, facial swelling and nasal discharge.





Headaches and Chiropractic Care: Treatment





Many headache sufferers find chiropractic treatment is not only effective at relieving headaches, but is also relaxing. Chiropractors have helped thousands of individuals reduce headache symptoms by using clinically-proven, focused and effective treatment methods. Headache treatment should be comprehensive, attacking the problem at every angle with multiple therapies. Effective headache treatment includes spinal adjustments, stretching, muscle stimulation, massage and sometimes heat or ice. The goal of treatment is to improve on joint motions which are restricted, loosen tight muscles and correct for postural strain. The chiropractic success rate for headaches is high with nerve related headaches—regular spinal adjustments relieve muscle pressure and improve nerve and blood vessel function, diminishing the potential for future headaches.





Headaches and Chiropractic Care: When Should You Be Concerned About Headaches?





When you suffer from any type of pain, you look for relief that is both safe and reliable. Be cautious with over the counter drugs (even nonprescription drugs) that you may develop a dependence upon and could have serious side effects. Rather than relying on painkillers, consider headache chiropractic care for tension headaches, cluster headaches, and migraines.It is estimated that 60% of chronic migraine sufferers reduce their symptoms after a course of chiropractic treatment.A chiropractor can reduce the pressure on nerves leading to and from the brain and gently guide misaligned, restricted vertebrae back into place.





Visiting a chiropractor for headaches is an effective treatment method for many. Some experience dramatic results and become headache free, while others experience reduced migraine symptoms—the idea behind chiropractic care is to help the body heal itself and most people find some relief. It is best to find a chiropractor you are comfortable with and monitor treatment over time. Take care of your body and find out if a chiropractor can help ease your migraines. Ask you chiropractor to review all the benefits of undergoing treatment, and exact expectations from your prescribed care plan.