Headaches

What Can Cause a Headache?

Headaches occur for a reason. A headache is your body's way of signaling you that something is not right. Some of the milder headaches are the result of occasional "morning after" problems brought on by excessive smoking, drinking or eating. Others may be the indirect symptom of eye strain, improper diet, hunger, poor lighting, excessive noise, constipation, foul air, daily pressures or infection, to name a few. In rare cases, headaches can be attributed to organic conditions such as brain tumors or diabetes.

Doctors of Chiropractic recognize that a headache is the body's warning alarm that pain may also be attributed to muscle tension and irritation of the nerves and blood vessels in the neck. The seven cervical vertebrae (spinal bones) can become misaligned from excessive physical and emotional stress. This misalignment can irritate the nerve roots in the neck and may even cause minor constriction in some vessels which supply blood to the brain. When this happens, a headache can strike ... once, twice, again and again. If not cared for, more serious symptoms may develop.
 

Can Headaches Be Serious?

A headache is no stranger to most people. One estimate is that headaches occur in 9 out of 10 people. Some are mild but annoying, localized pain that may be attributed to one or more of a variety of causes. Chronic, recurring headaches, which can be the most serious, are of two major types - migraine and tension. These may be frequent and intense, and may involve the severe throbbing, nausea, irritability and sensitivity to bright light common to the migraine or "sick" headache. These headaches can be debilitating. They can affect the vision and bodily functions, bring on pain and sensation elsewhere in the body and even change moods and personality. To find relief - if only temporary - the American public pours out millions of dollars a year for headache remedies.
 

What Can I Do to Ease the Pain?

People often consume over-the-counter pain pills to alleviate headaches, but you may be able to help relieve pain without medication by applying some simple common-sense methods. Consider these guidelines for possible temporary relief:

• Apply an ice pack or cold compress to the affected area which may numb and help alleviate the pain.
• Apply heat to the shoulder and/or neck muscles to help relax the muscles.
• Gently massage the back of the neck periodically to help reduce stress and discomfort.
• Lie down to rest in a quiet atmosphere with a rolled-up towel or small pillow supporting the neck without pushing the head forward.
• Immediately avoid bright lights and noise.
   

Too often individuals have become accustomed to self medication which may mask potentially dangerous conditions. Indiscriminate use and/or over-reliance on pain medications in lieu of a proper examination and diagnosis is not recommended. Early examination and diagnosis are essential to proper care and treatment. Consult your Doctor of Chiropractic for an evaluation and/or referral to another health care specialist.
 

What Can the Doctor of Chiropractic Do to Help?

Your Doctor of Chiropractic is primarily concerned with helping correct any neuromusculoskeletal (nerves, muscles and bones of the body) source of your headache. He or she will perform a special spinal examination to determine whether the symptoms may be alleviated by chiropractic care. The examination can determine whether the headache may be caused, or aggravated, by any misaligned vertebrae in the spine - a condition known as a subluxation - which may be creating undue nerve interference.

Chiropractic care may help prevent unnecessary tension and/or irritation in the neck and head. In some instances, chiropractic adjustments (specific spinal manipulations) can provide immediate relief for headache victims. A study of 87 headache victims who were treated with chiropractic adjustments over a two-year period revealed marked improvement. Common migraine had ceased altogether or was much improved in 85 percent of the females and 50 percent of the males. For those with classical migraine, the improvement rate was 78 percent in females and 75 percent in males.

Every headache victim is an individual case and may require special instructions or recommendations from their chiropractor. If your condition requires the attention of other health care specialists, your chiropractor will refer you to them.
 

What Can I Do to Help Prevent Headaches?

• Maintain good posture to help reduce misalignments in the bones of the neck.
• Seek to avoid situations of pressure and tension that can bring on a headache. If you can't avoid pressure, try to learn to cope with it more effectively.
• Find time to take periods of rest to relax, close your eyes, breathe some fresh air and even take a brisk walk.
• Avoid getting overtired to the point of exhaustion.
• Exercise regularly to stimulate the circulation of blood to the head and to maintain neuromusculo- skeletal flexibility.
• Avoid too little or too much sleep, which can be contributing factors to headaches.
• Try not to sleep on your stomach. Either sleep on your side with your head supported so that it is level with your spine, or on your back with a small pillow or rolled-up towel supporting your neck rather than your head.
• Try not to overindulge in food or drink, and don't smoke.
• Consult your chiropractic doctor for a thorough evaluation