Many people don't realize the power of chiropractic and how it can help them with their headaches or migraines. Headaches are common in most adults, but they can be debilitating when they come on strong or last for long periods. Headaches that continue to occur often become chronic, which is dangerous as treatment becomes ineffective after prolonged use. Chiropractic care helps to eliminate headaches by helping your body function optimally without pain or stiffness.
Migraines also respond well to chiropractic care because they cause extreme pain and discomfort in the head, neck, shoulders, and back regions. Headache sufferers may find relief from these intense sensations through regular visits to a licensed chiropractor who uses a holistic approach to treating pain to heal the underlying cause of pain.
Every person is different with their own set of physical issues that contribute to their specific type of headache or migraine, which can be treated through various chiropractic techniques such as spinal adjustments, soft tissue release therapy, electric stimulation therapy, and more. Headache sufferers are often surprised to find that their pain decreases in severity or disappears entirely after being under chiropractic care for only a few weeks.
What causes headaches and migraines?
According to Headache.org, several different types of headaches can affect people at any given time or throughout their lives.
Migraine Headaches: These types of headaches typically involve severe pain on one side of the head and may cause an aversion to light and sound, along with nausea and vomiting (sickness).
Cluster Headaches: These types of headaches usually occur one to three times a day and are felt behind the eyes, on top of the head, or around both sides of the face. They often cause drooping eyelids, tearing eyes and runny nose (rhinorrhea), and sweating on that side of the body.
Chronic Headache: This type of headache affects people daily and is often accompanied by pain on both sides of the head, such as tension or migraine headache. They also include sensitivity to light and sound but not nausea or vomiting (sickness).
Sinus Headaches: These headaches are caused by inflammation in the sinuses due to allergies or infections. They are often felt over the cheeks, around the eyes, and on top of the head.
Headache Associated with Cough, Laughing, Straining: These types of headaches are typically felt in the temples or back region of the skull due to coughing, laughing out loud (audible laughter), or straining during a bowel movement (defecation). They may also occur after heavy lifting activities.
Headache Associated with Eye Strain: Headaches caused by eye strain typically occur in the forehead, around the eyes, or ears. They may also be accompanied by sensitivity to light and irritability, along with blurred vision (visual disruption).
Headache Associated with Neck Problems: Headaches associated with neck problems typically affect both sides of the head above the temples, along the back of the head, or between both eyes.
Headache Associated with Stress: Headaches associated with stress typically affect one side of the head, are located around both eyes or at the back of a person's skull, and can be accompanied by irritability along with muscle tension.
Headache Due to Brain Tumor: Headaches due to brain tumors most commonly occur in men and women over the age of 50 and typically affect both sides of the head.
Headache Associated with Blood Vessel Disorder: Headaches associated with blood vessel disorders typically affect both sides of the head, are often felt over both eyes or at the back of a person's skull, and can be accompanied by nosebleeds (epistaxis), as well as redness in one eye.
These are caused by various issues such as improper spinal movement, stress, anxiety, depression. Headache pain can also result from muscle tension throughout other parts of your body that are relieved through adjustments to these tight areas.
It can also result from other health conditions such as acid reflux, anxiety disorders, or hypertension (high blood pressure). Headache pain is often felt around both eyes and behind one side of a person's head.
These types of headaches are caused by inflamed tendons in the neck region that may become stiff and swollen, irritating nearby nerves. Headache pain is often felt on both sides of the head and around one eye or in between both eyes.
These types of headaches are caused by inflamed blood vessels located near the surface of your skin that swell due to stress or anxiety, triggering a headache. Headache pain may be accompanied by nausea, vomiting (sickness), and sensitivity to light.
These headaches are caused by problems with the jaw joint that can become stiff or swollen, placing pressure on nearby nerves in the head region and causing pain. Headache pain is often felt over one side of a person's face or behind their eyes.
This type of headache is typically caused by sinus inflammation or pressure due to a cold, flu, allergies, or infection. Headache pain may be accompanied by a stuffy/runny nose (rhinorrhea), as well as nausea and vomiting (sickness).
How does a chiropractor's treatment work?
Chiropractors help their patients find relief from headaches or migraines without pain or drugs, which will benefit them in the long run. This pain results from the way your body is functioning, so chiropractic care helps to re-align it back into place.
Chiropractors help find relief from pain through adjustments by taking pressure off nerve roots that can become pinched due to misalignment or problems with spinal joints in the neck, upper back, and lower back. Headaches or migraines result from the way your body is functioning, so chiropractic care helps to re-align it back into place!
What should you do after a chiropractic visit?
After a chiropractic visit, it is crucial to keep up with your chiropractor’s instructions. If you have a headache after a chiropractic visit, you should try to avoid any strenuous activity for a few hours. You should also avoid any foods that have a lot of salt or caffeine. It would be best if you took a break from your phone and computer for a few hours to give your brain a break.
If a misalignment in the body causes your headache, a chiropractic visit can be a quick fix. However, if a vertebra causes your headache, a visit to a chiropractor would not solve your issues. To make sure your pain is gone, you should follow up with a home treatment routine.
Conclusion
It's no secret that Headaches and Migraines can be incredibly painful to experience. Unfortunately, there are few ways to get rid of these ailments that don't involve taking pills or pharmaceuticals. That's where our HealthSprout Chiropractic and Wellness come in!
If you have any questions or concerns, please don't hesitate to contact us by visiting our website or call 770-517-2240 / Text 770 637-4266