Headaches and Chiropractic: What do I need to know?

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Headaches affect 46% of the adult population globally. They range from mildly annoying to severely disabling. The good news is that less than 1% of them are life threatening. Just because your headache is not life threatening, though, does not mean it does not threaten your lifestyle. If you suffer headaches, odds are you suffer from tension headaches or migraines, or a combination of both. There are many different types of headaches, but for the purposes of this article we will talk about the two most common forms, migraines and tension headaches, and how chiropractic care can vastly improve your lifestyle by helping your headaches.

Tension headaches occur in 42% of people and are characterized by pain in the back and sides of head and behind the eyes. They last from 30 minutes to several days. They are usually not associated with nausea, vomiting or visual impairments. Many people say their tension headaches start with tightness and pain in the neck and shoulders, which then spreads to their head. There are multiple causes of tension headaches, such as emotional stress, poor posture, previous injuries like whiplash, lack of sleep, and many others.

Migraine headaches are debilitating and take a large toll on the quality of life of those who suffer from them. They are a substantial cause of disability worldwide. Migraine headaches most often occur unilaterally, or on one side of the head. They are of moderate to severe intensity and typically have a pulsating quality. They can last from a few hours to several days and can occur in conjunction with nausea, vomiting, sound or light sensitivity, and visual disturbances. They are often triggered by certain foods or environmental factors such as chocolate, alcohol, MSG, aged cheese, red meat, eye strain, birth control – the list goes on and on.

Though different types of headaches vary in how they present, many share some common threads. Headaches are often accompanied by neck pain and tightness in the muscles of the neck and upper back. These symptoms are very often caused by misalignments of the vertebrae in this part of the spine. This is why chiropractic care is a great treatment option for headache sufferers. Chiropractors apply gentle, specific adjustments to the spine to eliminate stress and tension, improve range of motion, and alleviate neck pain and headaches. In addition to adjustments, chiropractic treatment can include dietary advice, allergy testing, nutritional supplementation, physical therapy, massage therapy, and even acupuncture. For a truly holistic, natural, drug-free solution to your headaches, visit your local chiropractor and reclaim your quality of life.

About the Author: Dr. Kip Thompson is a chiropractor in Beaverton, OR. He specializes in chiropractic adjustments and physical rehabilitation for headaches, neck pain, low back pain, and much more. His passion is providing safe, drug-free solutions to common health conditions. If you are looking for a Beaverton, OR chiropractor, be sure to check out his website at http://catalystchiroandrehab.com/

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Sandy J Duncan
Sandy Duncan is completing her Doctorate in Integrative Medicine, a health and wellness coach, Certified Neurofeedback specialist and author of AllNaturalHealthReviews.org. Read honest reviews on current health and wellness products as well as register for FREE giveaways.