HEADACHES

Headaches are a common source of pain for a large number of Americans and the reason so many people seek chiropractic care in Downtown Miami.   95% of women and 90% of men have had at least one in the 12 months, and for about 45 million of us, who don’t get chiropractic care, those headaches are chronic.

While a wide variety of over-the-counter and prescription medications have been developed to relieve this pain, they generally do little to address the underlying cause of the problem. In addition, many of these compounds can have unwanted side effects, particularly if they’re used often, over a prolonged period of time or in combination with other medicines.

A growing awareness of both the limitations and risks of pharmaceuticals has led many headache sufferers to explore alternative approaches to managing them, including chiropractic.

Headaches occur for many reasons and can vary greatly in their intensity and duration. They may arise on their own (these are termed “primary headaches” and account for about 90% of all headaches) or be triggered as a result of some other health condition (described as “secondary headaches”). Chiropractic physicians most commonly encounter three types of headaches in their work:

·         Tension headaches are primary pain that are brought on by unrelieved muscular contractions in the head, neck and shoulders, usually as a result of stress that cannot find an outlet. These muscular contractions can themselves become the source of broader tension and stress throughout the body, setting in motion a feedback loop that eventually produces a headache.

·         Migraine headaches are also primary. They are sometimes referred to as vascular headaches because they happen when blood vessels in the head suddenly expand, or ‘dilate’. However, we know that the nervous system and genetic factors are also leading contributors. Sufferers report a wide range of triggers and related symptoms. Research into the exact cause of migraines is ongoing, and the condition has stubbornly resisted efforts to find a pharmaceutical “silver bullet”.

·         Cervicogenic headaches are secondary headaches produced when pain begins in the neck or back of the head and is referred to the forehead or the area behind, in and around the eyes. Trauma, chronic tension and disease are some of the more common initial sources of neck pain that is referred to the head. Trigger points in the neck, shoulder blade and spine may also be sources of these headaches, though they can be much more difficult to identify.

There is a large and growing body of medical research that suggests chiropractic care is effective in preventing or reducing the frequency and severity of primary headaches. There is also some evidence that it may have benefits for cervicogenic headache sufferers. Chiropractic manipulation of the spine and neck is used to improve the alignment of the spine and relieve muscle tension. It also reduces nerve irritation and improves vascular flow. Your chiropractic physician may also include massage, acupuncture and stretching as part of the treatment.

Most of our patients experience a complete reversal of their symptoms in just a week or two.  For the rear few that don’t our clinic has years of experience in functional medicine.  Sometimes digestive disorders, toxicity, stress, or past emotional trauma can be the cause of headaches.  Headaches can be a sign of even more serious health problems that should should be found and eliminated.  Taking painkillers and masking symptoms only drive the cause deeper into the body creating long term bad health.

If you or someone you know is looking for lasting relief from chronic headaches, we encourage you to call (786) 391-3853.

References

Headaches and Chiropractic. American Chiropractic Association. http://www.acatoday.org/conten…

Encyclopedia of Alternative Medicine. AltMD. http://www.altmd.com/Articles/…

Information for Patients. American Headache Society. http://www.achenet.org/educati…

Research Spotlight: Study of Spinal Manipulative Therapy for Neck-Related Headaches Reports Findings on Dose and Efficacy. National Institutes of Health, National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine. http://nccam.nih.gov/research/...