Headaches
It is
estimated that 90% of men and 95% of women had at least one
headache last year. Studies have also suggested that despite
this large number of headaches, about half of sufferers fail
to seek treatment. Unfortunately, this means that a large
portion of those with headaches are either suffering
needlessly or they are self-treating with medications ---
neither of these "solutions" addresses the cause(s) of the
headaches and, therefore, there is no prevention of future
pain. This is not control. To take control of your headaches,
seek care from your Doctor of Chiropractic.
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Primary headaches include tension-type, migraine, and
cervicogenic headache.
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Tension-type headaches, sometimes called muscle contraction,
are by far the most common type, accounting for an estimated
85% of all head pain. Men and women suffer from tension
headaches at equal rates. Pain is generally mild to
moderate, can last for a few hours to a full day, and is
usually felt in the back of the neck and on the scalp. They
may be caused by stress and can become chronic, with some
people suffering daily headaches.
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Migraine headaches are notorious for their severity and
potential for unusual symptoms. Women are more likely to
suffer from migraines than men, although before puberty and
after menopause, males and females suffer at approximately
equal rates. Migraines may run in families and can,
therefore, affect children. The American Council for
Headache Education (ACHE) believes that "if one parent has
migraine, the child has a 50 percent chance of having
migraine. If both parents have them, there is a 75 percent
chance that the child will have them, too."
Migraine pain is often
severe and disabling, affecting work, family, and social
lives. There are two types of migraine --- those with aura and
those without. Both types are characterized by throbbing pain,
typically on one side of the head (pain may alternate sides);
nausea and vomiting, and light and sound sensitivity. Migraine
with aura also includes visual disturbances (the "aura") such
as jagged lines or flashing lights in the visual field, blind
spots, or even visual or auditory hallucinations. Disruptions
in smell, taste, and touch may also be experienced.
Cervicogenic headaches are those caused by aberrations in the
structures of the neck, including the joints, ligaments,
muscles, or cervical spinal discs. In fact, cervicogenic means
originating in the neck. Symptoms of cervicogenic headache can
mimic both tension and migraine headache.
Fortunately, your Doctor of Chiropractic can differentiate
between the types of headache and their causes. Research has
shown that chiropractic management of these types of headache
is effective and safe. Some research suggests that not seeking
treatment for chronic headaches can lead to psychiatric
disorders, such as depression.
The Treatment
Only after a diagnosis of
your headache type and the determination of its causes will
chiropractic treatment begin --- if it is determined that
chiropractic is the form of care most appropriate for your
case. If it is found that another type of treatment would be
beneficial, you will be referred to the most suitable health
care provider.
If chiropractic care will best meet your needs, treatment will
begin after it is first outlined and explained to you.
Chiropractic is a form of care that uses several means of
treatment to reach the desired result. Treatment may include
spinal adjustment (also called manipulation) to improve spinal
alignment; physical modalities such as application of heat or
ice, electric muscle stimulation, ultrasound, massage, or
others may be used; and specific recommendations to improve
your diet, exercise, posture, or sleeping habits will be
discussed as they affect your headache frequency. Relaxation
techniques may also be discussed.
The Prevention
Once your Doctor of
Chiropractic has determined the cause(s) of your headaches,
you will know how to avoid them in the future. For example, if
it is found that your headaches tend to occur following a late
lunch, future care to eat at regular intervals will prevent at
least some of your headaches.
Follow all recommended changes to lifestyle (such as
improvements in diet, nutrition, exercise, and posture) and
keep all health care appointments. The bottom line is that
they are your headaches --- you can be the one to control
them.
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