Headaches
A mild, dull ache, severe throbbing, or painful tension headache along the scalp and neck; can affect a good night’s sleep. Being able to think clearly and calmly allows us to make decisions, process emotions, and carry on with our day-to-day lives.
Manual therapy, soft tissue therapy and holistic lifestyle modifications may be recommended.
Types of Headaches
Tension-type headaches commonly present as band-like tension around the head, whereas migraine headaches usually result in pain on one side of the head and are commonly accompanied by nausea and sensitivity to light and sound.
With cervicogenic headaches, the neck is the source of the problem and the pain is perceived as a steady, non-throbbing pain at the back and base of the skull. TMJD (Temporomandibular joint dysfunction) is also a potential cause of headaches.
Who Gets Headaches?
Headaches are common in kids and teens. A family history of headaches, neck stiffness and stress are common factors. So, if a parent, grandparent, or other family member gets them, there’s a chance that a child may get them too.
Treatments
Chiropractors can assess, diagnose, and manage headaches. Current evidence suggests that chiropractic care can be effective in treating cervicogenic and tension headaches and help decrease the intensity and frequency of migraines.
The treatment options may include:
- Manual therapy
- Soft tissue therapy
- Lifestyle changes and education
Lifestyle change options:
- Avoiding certain foods. Alcohol, chocolate, aged cheeses, and other foods can trigger a tension headache or migraine. If certain foods are a problem for you, limit how often you eat them.
- Establish a sleep routine. Sleep helps keep your immune system strong, wards off depression and anxiety, and promotes deep relaxation. Going to bed and waking up at the same time every day. Poor sleeping habits, a lack of sleep, or too much sleep can actually trigger a migraine or tension headache.
- Exercise. Exercising can help reduce the symptoms. Aerobics, strengthening, and flexibility exercises may help.
- Posture. Poor posture can strain your head, neck, and shoulder muscles, leading to a migraine or headache. Making adjustments to your posture may reduce the frequency of headaches. Blog – Posture at Work
- Reduce your stress. Many headaches are triggered by stress, knowing how to handle stress can reduce the frequency and severity of your headaches.
Chiropractic care is a safe and effective solution that will not only get rid of headache pain but actually treat what is causing the headache in the first place.
Dr Natasha Hayden is a pediatric and prenatal chiropractor that is passionate about helping her community discover just how good their bodies are designed to feel, so they can do more of what they love.
Your health goals are within reach with the support of our team.
