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"My head is killing me! I have had an achy pain in the back of my head for the past two weeks." Sound familiar? If you have a headache, you are not alone. Nine out of ten Americans suffer from headaches. With some occasional, some frequent, some dull and throbbing, and some that cause debilitating pain and nausea, it is important to seek care for relief. Research suggests that spinal manipulation - the primary form of care provided by doctors of chiropractic - may be an effective treatment option for tension headaches and headaches that originate in the neck. Spinal manipulations have shown to decrease the severity and frequency of headaches, because they usually are due to a misaligned spine. Poor posture or injury can force your vertebrae out of place and pressure the nerves. Not all headaches are caused by spinal misalignments, but you should consult your chiropractor in Alpharetta before you begin any treatments. Types of Headaches There are several types of headaches - tension, migraine and cervicogenic. Most people experience the tension headache, which includes moderate pain on both sides of the head. It is often described as a pressure that is squeezing your head and causing the pain. Migraines are more severe than tension, and are usually described as throbbing pain. Sometimes, a migraine can even cause nausea, loss of appetite, and, in some cases, vision difficulties. If you get migraine headaches regularly, keep a record of the foods you eat. You may notice that your headaches are caused by specific foods. Additionally, the cervicogenic headache is related to the spine and causes most tension type headaches. When to Seek Chiropractic Care Everyone gets the occasional headache, but some headaches get so bad that they won't go away. While medicine often treats the symptoms, they often ignore the underlying cause of the problem. The worst headaches can be slow to respond to the intended effect of the medications. The stronger medications can also have a negative and long-lasting effect to the rest of your body when used for extended periods of time. This is why many people finally decide to look to other, more natural solutions for their problems with chiropractic. When we become stressed, frightened, or angry, the body will respond with increased muscle tension in the neck, shoulders, or head. This reaction, often referred to as the fight or flight response, is how we respond to stress. If stress becomes constant in our lives, that muscle tension seems to become just another habit. This can lead to imbalances in the body, which then leads to more muscle tension and pain. With chiropractic care, your tight muscles will relax and realign the spine underneath to end this pain cycle. 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 are more relaxed. Migraines are brought on by changes in vascular flow, triggered by a variety of factors such as different smells, foods, weather, hormonal changes, and stress. Recent studies have shown that chiropractic treatment may play a significant role in reducing the number of migraines a person has. By careful manipulation of the neck and spine, chiropractic adjustments may be able to reduce irritation in the spine, preventing radiating or referred pain, and improving vascular flow. Chiropractic treatment centers around the idea of manipulating the spinal column and neck to improve posture and blood flow. Contact your chiropractor in Johns Creek and Alpharetta to day for more information on how chiropractic care can relieve your headache pain.
Dr. Matt DiDuro, chiropractor in Johns Creek, brings over 17 years of clinical experience working in the health care profession. He taught at Life University and helped develop the next generation of chiropractors. In 2008 he opened Health Choice Chiropractic Center, Alpharetta chiropractic, for personalized patient care.
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