Treat tension headaches at the source - by Foot LevelersEveryone experiences headaches, but did you know there are two main categories? Most people – in fact, 95 percent of people according to the American Chiropractic Association – suffer from primary headaches.[1]
The most common form of primary headaches, tension headaches, can be triggered by poor posture, sedentary behavior, sleep patterns and work ergonomics. Add in other factors such as stress, fatigue, and malnutrition and a throbbing headache can surface abruptly – a painful way to carry out the day.
Secondary headaches are typically more severe than primary headaches and are the result of an underlying disorder such as meningitis or a serious neck injury.
Typical responses for a headache are to reach for the medicine cabinet, lie down for a short time, or simply try to ignore it. Unfortunately, most remedies do not address the issue where it starts, and relief is short-lived.
Chiropractors across the world will agree – the solution is not to provide relief temporarily, but to find the source of pain, treat it, and let headaches be a thing of the past.
One thing leads to another
Chiropractors have an extensive knowledge of joint, muscle, and bone functionality. Their expertise in the musculoskeletal system gives them an ability to identify pain at the source. They know that pain in one section of the body can be a response to a disturbance in a completely different area.
When a tension headache occurs, we experience cranial and facial pain, even though there is not an injury to the face or the brain.
According to a New York Times article, “The brain is insensitive to pain, so that is not what hurts when you have a headache. Rather, the pain occurs in the following areas:
- The tissues covering the brain
- The attaching structures at the base of the brain
- Muscles and blood vessels around the scalp, face, and neck”[2]
Most tension headaches are a result of a disturbance in another part of the body. Multiple factors can intensify the issue such as light, work environments, food, and sleep patterns.
How chiropractic can help
Throughout time, our bodies adapt to repetitive poor posture and work ergonomics.
As this happens, alignment in the neck, upper back and spine become compromised.
This stress and misalignment upon the musculoskeletal system can be a great causer of tension headaches.
It is important to consult with a chiropractor to discover what is causing headaches, and how to treat them. People may be experiencing headaches but are unaware that their posture and musculoskeletal health can be the source.
Chiropractors can help by restoring range of motion and correcting the body’s biomechanics through adjustments and spinal manipulation.
A headache is a message from your body, telling you that something is out of order. If headaches are becoming a common problem, it is up to you to take control – visit with your chiropractor and fix the problem at the source.
[1] American Chiropractic Association. (Accessed: February 2012) Headaches & Chiropractic. http://www.acatoday.org/content_css.cfm?CID=2186
[2] New York Times. (Accessed: February 2012) Headache, Cluster In-Depth Report. http://health.nytimes.com/health/guides/disease/cluster-headaches/print.html
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