Headaches

Headaches and Migraines are one of the major causes of pain and peoples inability to function.  There are many different types:

Tension Type-Headache

Tension type headaches are the most common type of headaches.  The pain is caused by muscles on your head contracting leading to pain.  This causes a tight band like appearance over the head.  Factors that can lead to the headaches are fatigue, tension, stress, and work.  They can appear in any age.

Migraine

One of the most common headaches experienced by females.  The pain is caused by enlargement of blood vessels in the head.  Usually common characteristics are light sensitivity, throbbing, nausea, vomiting, and pain behind the eye.  Some people will experience an aura where they see visual hallucinations before the migraine starts.  Common triggers with migraines are bright light, chocolate, stress, red wine, and the menstrual cycle.

Cluster Headache

Are more common in males than females usually in adolescence to adults.    The exact cause of the headaches are not known but it is believed there is an underlying problem with the autonomic nervous system.  The pain is usually felt around the eye and usually only on one side.  It also commonly wakes the person up at night, causes a runny nose, and sweat.  Drinking alcohol can trigger more attacks.

Sinus Headache

They are usually caused when the sinuses become inflamed and the congestion will lead to pain.  The pain is a deep constant pain located in the cheek bones, forehead, or bridge of the nose.

Rebound Headache

This type of headache is caused by over use of pain killers.  Usually people will take pain killers to help in decreasing symptoms of a headache they are having already.  The abuse of the pain killers leads to the increase frequency of headaches.

Pain killers for headaches

NSAIDS like Aspirin or Ibuprofen work by decreasing your body from producing chemicals that cause pain and inflammation.  These chemicals are also beneficial and that is why people can end up with many side effects.  NSAIDS are not correcting the problem.  The cause of your headache is still there and once you stop taking them the headache will be back.

Can chiropractic help?

Yes there are many clinical studies showing positive evidence chiropractic has on treating headaches.  Chiropractic can help with the treatment of headaches because it is working with the nervous system.  One way or another the nervous system is related to the cause of your headaches.  It could be from a decrease in blood flow, hormones, muscle contraction, congestion or many other ways.  By using chiropractic we promote your bodies ability to heal itself and maintain balance.  When the body is not in an appropriate balance the nervous system is not functioning at its potential and can lead to symptoms like headaches.