According to the latest research, 1 in 5 people in the U.S. experience at least 1-2 headache episodes per month. And, more than 4% of the U.S. population suffers from frequent headaches, defined as headaches that occur at least 180 days a year. These headaches can present themselves in many different ways. Some people only experience pain in one part of their head or behind their eyes, some people experience a pounding sensation inside their whole head, and some people even experience nausea, while others do not. The pain itself may be dull or sharp and may last for anywhere from a few minutes to a few days.
Scientists have identified over 300 causes for headaches. The most common of these headaches include:
- Cervicogenic (problems within the neck)
- Temporomandibular joint dysfunction (TMJ)
- Muscle-tension (neck and upper back muscular spasms)
- Post-traumatic (following head/neck trauma, i.e. whiplash)
- Drug reactions
- Stress and fatigue
- Migraines
Numerous research studies have shown that chiropractic adjustments can result in an almost immediate improvement in tension headaches, especially headaches that originate in the neck. Additionally, there were significantly fewer side effects and longer-lasting relief than commonly prescribed medications. This is because most headaches have a spinal, muscular, or habitual component which the chiropractor has been trained to identify and treat.
How We Treat Headaches
For most people, a headache will go away on its own. But for some, they can become chronic and debilitating. While medications can give short term relief, they only act on the symptom of the issue. Our treatments primarily focus on the cause of your problems, which not only results in rapid and effective pain-relief, but most importantly, minimizes the chance of future problems.
Every patient is different, so the first plan of action when our chiropractor treats your headache is to do a thorough examination and discuss your lifestyle to determine what may be causing your headache. From there our chiropractors will create a program just for you. Oftentimes we start with the chiropractic adjustment, which restores the biomechanics of the joints. We may also recommend a nutrition plan to help ensure that your body has the appropriate nutrients to heal. Our goal is to correct the root cause, so that you can enjoy your life without pain.