There are many different variations of headaches including tension headaches, cluster headaches, and migraines – the most common type being tension headaches. According to the Canadian Chiropractic Association, nearly 37% of women and about 21% of men report that they suffer from tension headaches regularly (source).
So what causes these headaches?
According to the Mayo Clinic, you can experience tension headaches due to the overactivity of or functional issues with pain-sensitive structures in the brain (source). The nerves, joints, and muscles that surround your skull and neck can be the main reason why you get headaches. The other common things that can cause headaches may include:
- Lack of sleep
- Poor posture
- Stress
- Certain foods
- Alcohol
Chiropractors can help reduce headaches and even prevent them from happening.
At your first appointment, our team of chiropractic physicians determine the cause of your headaches and discuss your treatment options with you. Some chiropractic treatments that can help alleviate your headache pain include.
1. Spinal Manipulation
This type of treatment involves mobilizing and restoring function to fixated pressure in certain areas, reduce inflammation, and improve nerve function. This is one of the most common treatments for any type of headaches.
2. Soft Tissue Therapy
This type of treatment involves manipulating the soft body tissues (think muscles, connective tissues, tendons, joints) and helps to reduce pain in certain areas. Because the chiropractor works through your tissue to locate the root cause of pain or tension, this type of therapy can be tender at first.
3. Lifestyle changes or education
If your chiropractor thinks your headaches stem from a lifestyle issue, they will provide information and recommendations to help you make a change and alleviate your pain naturally. Recommended strategies include eating a healthy diet, taking vitamins, exercising regularly, and reducing cell phone use.
You may think the pain will go away, but then pain quickly becomes your new normal. When you seek chiropractic care, you will likely be flabbergasted when your headaches go away so easily. If you’re like our other patients, you’ll say you wish you hadn’t let yourself suffer for so long!
Don’t miss out on drug-free headache relief! Contact our office to schedule your next appointment.