| Headaches are painful, elusive, and one of the most | | | | Headache Treatment and Care |
| common physical symptoms that people face | | | | Treatment and care for headaches includes |
| throughout their lifetime. Pain can occur with a variety | | | | prescription and over-the-counter medications, |
| of intensity, frequency, location, and duration, and | | | | chiropractic care, acupuncture, trigger point therapy |
| often is debilitating. Just as there are many types and | | | | and massage, night guards to prevent teeth grinding, |
| causes of headaches, there are also many | | | | dietary modifications, and changes in lifestyle. Various |
| treatments that can relieve them without the use of | | | | medications have been shown to alleviate headaches, |
| medications. | | | | and, often, a simple conversation with your family |
| According to the National Headache Foundation, more | | | | physician and alteration of your medication regimen |
| than 45 million Americans suffer from chronic, | | | | can reduce and even end the pain. |
| recurring headaches. Of those 45 million people, an | | | | As early as 1995, an article in the Journal of |
| estimated 28 million suffer from migraine headaches, | | | | Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics (JMPT) |
| an extremely painful condition that may include | | | | reported that chiropractic adjustments were |
| unpleasant additional symptoms, such as vomiting and | | | | determined to be effective in relieving headaches |
| visual disruption. It is interesting to note that about | | | | when following the chiropractor's treatment plan and |
| 20% of children complain of headaches. | | | | produced more benefit than most prescribed |
| Over the years, the trend toward suffering from | | | | medications. Then, in 2001, a study performed at |
| headaches has escalated significantly, largely due to | | | | Duke University showed that spinal adjustments |
| such lifestyle issues as greater stress, increased use | | | | helped curb the majority of headaches that arose |
| of visual screens (mobile phones, texting, computers, | | | | from muscle spasms and headaches stemming from |
| etc), more caffeine, specific food chemicals, and poor | | | | the neck. The effect of adjustments was also |
| eating habits. These can be added to basic physical | | | | reported to last much longer than the duration of |
| triggers, such as hormonal changes, lack of a proper | | | | most prescribed medications. |
| curve in the neck, whiplash injuries, slips and falls, | | | | A recent study reported in the JMPT showed that |
| heavy weights on the shoulders and neck (such as | | | | people who took appropriate pain medications did get |
| backpacks and laptop cases), and other factors. | | | | relief; however, those who were under chiropractic |
| According to chiropractor specialist Dr. George B. | | | | care experienced greater relief and had far fewer |
| McClelland of Christiansburg, Virginia, "Today, | | | | side effects than participants taking medication. |
| Americans engage in more sedentary activities than | | | | Chiropractic care has proved to be particularly |
| they used to, and more hours are spent in one fixed | | | | effective at easing the pain and correcting the |
| position or posture. This can increase joint irritation | | | | origination of many kinds of headaches. |
| and muscle tension in the neck, upper back, and | | | | Proactive Measures |
| scalp, causing your head to ache." | | | | A variety of proactive measures can help lower the |
| Types of Headaches | | | | likelihood of developing a headache. If you |
| Headaches originate in diverse ways, including but not | | | | typically stay in a fixed position for long periods doing |
| limited to: | | | | computer work or another kind of laborious activity, |
| Tension: the most common type of headache, a | | | | try stretching every 45 minutes. |
| muscle-contractive pain. | | | | Avoid staring at computer screens for long |
| Cervicogenic: pain from subluxation (misalignment) | | | | periods of time. Tilt your head from side to side and |
| of the neck and upper back. | | | | stretch. Raise your computer monitor to a position |
| Dietary: stemming from food chemicals, such as | | | | slightly above eye level. |
| MSG, and commercial food processing techniques. | | | | Have your eyes checked by a doctor to make |
| Exertional: head pain that develops after | | | | sure that your vision has not changed. |
| exercising. | | | | Try to avoid teeth clenching where possible and |
| Hormonal: most common in females with active | | | | have periodic dental checkups. |
| reproductive cycles, using hormone-based birth | | | | Avoid placing too many pillows underneath your |
| control, or undergoing life-stage hormonal changes. | | | | neck when lying down and reading or watching |
| Hypertension-based: a vascular (blood vessel | | | | television. |
| related) issue that is usually worse during the night. | | | | Stay hydrated, as many headaches occur |
| Medication-induced: the side effect of many | | | | because of a lack of water intake throughout the |
| prescribed, store-bought medications. | | | | day. |
| Sinus: deep constant pain at the front of the | | | | Limit intake of red wines and red meats, as both |
| head and in the cheeks, with possible fever, a feeling | | | | are known headache triggers. |
| of fullness in the ears, and actual swelling. | | | | Consult your physician about the many |
| Temporomandibular jaw (TMJ)-induced: a result | | | | medications that cause headaches as side effects, |
| of joint inflammation and clenching the teeth, which | | | | and determine whether you are taking any of them. |
| typically accompanies the disorder. | | | | If you are a woman who experiences difficult |
| Cluster: the least common type of headache, | | | | menstrual cycles, consult your obstetrician |
| consisting of a severe, intense group of attacks | | | | gynecologist and discuss altering any related |
| behind one eye. | | | | medications you are taking. |
| More than 150 headache categories have been | | | | Avoid foods with caffeine, MSG, and other |
| identified. The majority involve symptoms that | | | | excitotoxins that contain MSG, such as hydrolyzed |
| encompass pulsating, throbbing, or squeezing pain and | | | | protein and autolyzed yeast, bouillon, sodium |
| can last just a few minutes to hours and even | | | | caseinate, natural flavors, and spices. |
| several days. Additional signals associated with | | | | Studies show that one of eight people in the US sees |
| headaches frequently include light sensitivity; auras, | | | | a chiropractor. Consult your family chiropractor |
| sometimes provoked by certain odors or noise; and | | | | regarding a headache treatment plan that is right for |
| more intense symptoms, such as nausea and | | | | you. Many headaches are caused by a lack of neck |
| vomiting, abdominal pain and stomach cramps, visual | | | | curve that results in muscle spasms and spinal cord |
| disturbances, floaters, fever, dizziness, and loss of | | | | tension as well as misalignments. Massage therapy |
| skin tone. Numerous options exist for headache | | | | can "do wonders" for tension in the head and neck, |
| treatment, and the approach to care typically varies | | | | and acupuncture has become increasingly popular as a |
| with the type of headache that is occurring. | | | | care option. |