Three Types Of Headaches That Can Be Treated With Chiropractic Care

Chiropractic adjustments can be an effective, drug-free way to relieve pain. Although many people think of chiropractic care for back and neck pain, it can also relieve headaches, especially chronic ones, through manipulations of the neck.

Headaches have many possible causes, some of which can't be addressed through chiropractic treatments. However, there are some types that do respond well and for which chiropractors can provide relief from pain.

Tension Headaches

While tension itself can derive from emotions such as anxiety or stress, people often respond to tension with physical behaviors like clenching their teeth, tightening their necks and shoulders and physically overexerting themselves. This clenching and overexertion can make muscles press on nerves in the neck that then send pain messages to the brain and result in throbbing headaches. Chiropractic manipulations of these muscles can relieve the pressure on the nerves and consequently relieve headache pain.

Cervicogenic Headaches

Cervicogenic headaches are those that feel deep in the head, generally don't throb and feel connected to physical actions like moving the neck. They can also occur in conjunction with neck pain. They happen when people keep their necks in improper positions for extended periods of time, such as sitting at computers all day, using the cheek and shoulder to hold the phone, or continually looking overhead.

These improper positions can make muscles inflamed and painful. They also push the cervical spine out of alignment. Adjusting the neck and spine returns them to normal alignment and relieves the nerve pain that causes these headaches.

Cluster Headaches

Cluster headaches are recurring headaches that can be severe. They are usually felt behind the eyes and can involve pain in the neck, shoulder and face. Sometimes they are so bad that they can cause facial drooping, watery eyes and sinus problems. Although the exact cause can be hard to diagnose, they are thought to result from dilation of the blood vessels.

Chiropractic treatment can't address all the possible causes, but in some cases an adjustment can relieve pressure on the trigemal nerve. This nerve is located in the center of the head and transmits pain sensations behind the eyes, nasal passages and jaw. Many patients find relief when their bodies are in alignment and they are free from other pain. This enables them to relax and to avoid other triggers or behaviors that dilate the blood vessels like exertion, poor sleep or alcohol use.

Chiropractic treatment can reduce the pressure on nerves that transmit pain to the head and can also eliminate the muscular tension that can trigger some headaches. In addition to manipulations and adjustments, chiropractors can also recommend exercises that will counteract the effects of poor posture and work-related motions or positions that lead to headaches. If you suffer from any of these headache types, a chiropractic consultation and exam may help you finally eliminate headache pain without drugs or other therapies.  

Get in touch with a center like Yaeger Chiropractic for more details.

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