How a Chiropractor Helps with Headaches
If you suffer from frequent headaches, you know how they can take over your life. It’s hard to focus, hard to get anything done, and sometimes even hard to get out of bed. Day-to-day life becomes so much more difficult. While medications and other treatments can help relieve headache symptoms, they don’t stop the actual headaches from happening. Something that may? Visiting a chiropractor.
Yes, a chiropractor helps with headaches! It isn’t just about back pain. There are several ways that chiropractic care can help you if you’re suffering with headaches.
Understanding Headaches
To understand how a chiropractor helps with headaches, you’ll first want to learn more about what causes headaches. To do this, it’s important to know that there are several different types of headaches, including:
- Tension headaches
- Migraines
- Cervicogenic headaches
Tension headaches are the most common type of headache. They usually feel like pressure on your forehead or temples. This pressure is constant and mild-to-moderate in intensity. Most tension headaches last at least 30 minutes, but they can last much longer. Some people experience tension headaches that last up a week or longer.
Causes of tension headaches vary. They can be caused by neck strain (such as looking down or up at a computer screen for a long period), eye strain, temporomandibular jaw disorder (TMJ), sleep disorders, anxiety, stress, or other health and lifestyle factors.
Cervicogenic headaches are caused by a spine or neck issue. Anything that negative affects your bones, joints, ligaments, or nerves can trigger these headaches. Physical therapy and chiropractic care can help treat these issues, reducing the likelihood of cervicogenic headaches.
One way that a chiropractor helps with headaches, especially tension headaches, is by relieving tension in the body. When you come into our clinic, we will conduct a full examination to determine what may be causing your headaches. We can then use chiropractic techniques (such as soft tissue therapy or spinal adjustments) to alleviate tension.
We can also recommend lifestyle changes. For instance, we’ll help you find potential posture issues that could be contributing to pain and headaches and give you some tips on how to improve your posture. Chiropractic care is about more than just your back. It’s a holistic focus that considers all aspects of your health and lifestyle.
Chiropractic Care and Migraine Headaches
Migraine headaches are usually quite severe. They often feel like a throbbing or pulsing sensation in your head, typically on one side. Some migraine sufferers may also experience nausea or light sensitivity. In some cases, a migraine may be preceded by visual disturbances, such as light flashes or blind spots. Migraine attacks can last several hours or even days and people who get migraines often find them quite debilitating.
Migraines are neurological conditions, but chiropractic care can help lessen their effects and treat the negative symptoms. For instance, chiropractic adjustments can reduce neck stiffness or pain and can also help with jaw function problems. If you are experiencing migraines, chiropractic care can help reduce the pain and discomfort you may feel.
We’re here to help you feel your best! If you have any questions, please contact us. You can also book an appointment online to come in and meet with our team. We’ll do a comprehensive evaluation to help determine if there are any health of lifestyle factors that could be contributing to your headaches.