by Brian Bartholomew D.C.
Do you or someone you know suffer from headaches? This article and video show how chiropractic care helps people with headaches.
How Common Are Headaches?
Headaches are something that are not only painful but can be completely disabling. Many people who battle headaches strugge through the day at work and miss important time with their family due to the pain. The International Headache Society estimated that 75% of adults suffered from headaches at least once per year.
Types of Headaches
The most common types of headaches are tension and migraine. Tension headaches may last any where from a few minutes to a few weeks and the pain varies from person to person. Tension type headache pain often feels like a really tight headband going around your head. In some cases the pain becomes so severe that a person is confined to their bed for several days.
Sometimes individuals with tension headaches have such severe symptoms that they become a migraine headache. These symptoms may include seeing blind spots or flashing lights, abdominal pain, nausea, body numbness, slurred speech, vomiting and other conditions. Because of the fact that tension and migraine headaches are frequently linked they are commonly confused and making an accurate diagnosis is difficult.
Migraine headaches often begin at puberty. They are experienced mostly frequently during the ages of 35 to 45. Migraines are typically recurrent and often life-long unless the cause is isolated and corrected.
Treatments for headaches
Prescription and over-the counter medications are the most common treatment for headaches. Often these medications only offer temporary treatment or relief. Medications of any kind come with many negative and dangerous side effects. Ithaca Family Chiropractic has helped many of our community members from Ithaca, Cortland, Lansing, Dryden, Ny and the surrounding areas find safer, more permanent, drug free solutions.
Getting to the triggers and causes of headaches
Headaches, regardless of the type, have many triggers. Some common triggers involve altered chemical activity in the brain, altered cerebral spinal flow in the spinal cord, muscles tension due to postural distortion, blood flow changes, joint irritation due to mal-position, food allergies, menstrual changes, nutrient deficiency, dehydration and/or systematic conditions.
Naming headaches by symptoms or type is common but getting to the underlying cause is the primary focus of chiropractic. Many headaches are related to lifestyle issues or deficiencies. Other headaches are from neurological interference due to spinal misalignments or subluxations. Chiropractors are experts in analyzing the spine and neck for areas of nerve interference or subluxations. Chiropractors naturally correct that interference with light spinal adjustments as well as assisting with lifestyle changes that assist the natural healing power of the body.
What to do if you know someone suffering with headaches
If you or someone you care about suffer from any of the above headaches, it is important to make an appointment to see a chiropractor at Ithaca Family Chiropractic. Many people do not realize that Doctors of Chiropractic (D.C.) make up the largest natural health care profession in the United States. Doctors of Chiropractic complete over 7 years of studies in safe, comfortable, scientific chiropractic adjustments to help restore the body heal itself. D.C.s also study and educate practice members nutrition and natural alternatives to drugs.
We are dedicated to assisting our practice members dealing with headaches and other ailments which may be limit their joy and life expression. Our friendly staff and office provide a feeling of comfort and welcome from the moment you walk in the door. We are sincerely interested in determining the cause of your headaches or health challenge not just cover up the symptoms. Our goal is to bring complete and lasting solutions to your problems and help you live a healthy happy life.