Migraine, Tension, Cluster Headaches – Causes and Cures

Headaches plague most people at some time. But what they may not realize is that frequent headaches can be an indicator of potentially more serious problems. Even more surprising to many is that chiropractors may be just the professional they need when suffering from headaches.

A chiropractor can diagnose potential problems by reviewing a patient’s medical history, along with conducting a thorough examination. This is because many headaches begin with a spinal misalignment in the neck, or cervical spine which can produce pain and headaches.

Nerves in an individual’s body carry vital information about pain and the musculoskeletal functions. Because of this, a spinal misalignment can lead to nerve interference and dysfunction. The result is that individuals may experience muscle stiffness, spasms, muscle tension, pain, and eventually chronic headaches.

Specific chiropractic adjustments can help correct spinal join dysfunction created by the various chemical, emotional and physical stresses in an individual’s life. An adjustment is a gentle, specific, push on the vertebra to guide it back into place. It is so gentle it can be performed on children, even newborn babies.

Patients frequently report relief from headaches following treatment by a chiropractor. While some may realize immediate relief, others may take longer to see correction of their problem especially if the problem existed for many years without detection.

There are several triggers that can lead to headaches, which include:

• Chemical stressors (i.e., hormonal changes)
• Physical stressors (i.e., structural problems)
• Emotional stressors (anxiety)
• Even medications intended to relieve headaches can intensify their pain

Regardless of what onsets headaches, they can result in disruption of the balance of an individual’s nervous system. The result is alteration of the spinal column, causing a series of spinal misalignments known as subluxations. Untreated, subluxations can lead to irreversible spinal degeneration.

Chiropractic care can help correct spinal misalignments created by various stressors, regardless of the cause. The result is a more-effective approach to treating headaches and related musculoskeletal problems without painful surgery or medications that may produce side-effects.

Using pain medication to treat headaches is dangerous for two reasons. First it may provide short term relief of pain but the source of the problem is not corrected and the injury becomes more inflamed and difficult to treat. Second, certain ingredients in pain medication put stress on the stomach, the kidneys and the liver. Over time, medication can cause problems with these organs and the headache is still there.

Treating headaches usually begins with identifying the different types of headaches including:

• Migraine Headaches, which usually result in:

1. One-sided pain associated with nausea
2. Moderate to severe pain
3. A throbbing sensation
4. Extreme sensitivity to light, sound and touch
5. Visual “aura”

• Tension Headaches. These usually involve:

1. A steady, dull pain that produces the sensation of wearing a cap
2. Mild to moderate pain
3. Tension in the neck or head
4. Moderate sensitivity to light or sound

• Cluster Headaches, which may result in:

1. Pain near the forehead or around the eyes
2. Excruciating pain
3. Penetrating, throbbing pain
4. A series of headaches
5. Watery, swollen eyes

Chiropractors have a very high success rate treating headaches. Many patients are surprised how simple the chiropractic philosophy is once they understand the chiropractor is simply guiding misaligned vertebra back in place and that is the source of their pain.