Monday, April 13, 2009

Headaches - Not Just In Your Head

By Philip Vincent

Headaches. Everyone gets them from time to time, but sometimes they can be so strong as to be utterly debilitating and they may not go away. Medications can address the symptoms but not the cause of these headaches, and simply dull the pain temporarily.

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.

Some Types of Headaches

When treating any type of health condition, the first and most important step is to understand what is causing the problem. Since there are many different kinds of headaches, some are more effectively treated by chiropractic than others. Headaches are often caused by

-changes by vascular constriction

-tension of the muscles

-sinus congestion

These headaches may refer pain all over the head and feel like they're centered in many different locations, but it is most important to know that chiropractic is a great solution to those headaches that are centered around tension in the muscles and changes to vascular flow. Sinus headaches may be treated as well, but its likely that the cause is more complicated.

There are three main types of headaches typically found in a chiropractic office:

-migraine headaches

-tension headaches

-cervicogenic 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 become stressed, frightened, or angry, the body will respond with increased muscle tension in the neck, shoulders, or head. This reaction, often called a fight or flight response, is how we respond to stress. If stress becomes very constant in our lives, that muscle tension can become just another habit.

This can lead to imbalances in the way we hold our body, which in turn lead to more muscle tension and pain. Chiropractic treatment can often relax these muscles and realign the skeletal structure underneath to end the vicious cycle of pain. Those seeking treatment for tension headaches may often see drastic improvement in just a few sessions as nerves are less irritated and 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.

Current research has shown chiropractic may help reduce the number of migraine headaches a person has. By specific adjustments to the neck and spine, chiropractic care may be able to reduce the nerve irritation in the spine, preventing the referred or radiating pain and improving vascular flow.

Types of Treatment

Chiropractic care centers around manipulation of the spine and neck to improve blood flow and posture. To reduce the headaches, the chiropractor will perform spinal adjustments using his hands, but may also include massage, trigger point therapy, or other types of complementary treatments to address the problem. The doctor of chiropractic will probably also include some home care recommendations such as stretching exercises and posture education to help keep things balanced between visits. - 14130

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