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Headaches
Are Headaches
Becoming a Way of Life?
Boom, Boom, Boom. . . . .Here it
comes, the pounding pressure that begins at the back of your
head and shoots “Bullets of Pain” behind your eyes. This
constant throbbing renders you grouchy, ill-tempered and
unable to focus on anything except the thoughts "where
did it come from?" or "how do I make it go away?"
During those times when headaches attack, relief seems
difficult to come by. However, relief may be closer than
you know.
While the different types and
classifications of headaches are numerous, the most common
headaches are tension-type, migraines, and cervicogenic.
Tension-type
headaches are characterized by mild to
moderate steady pain, tightness, or pressure around the head
and neck. These “tension headaches” may be provoked by the
stress of everyday life, eye strain, or poor
posture.
Migraines are identified by a moderate to
severe throbbing headache that lasts from 4 to 72 hours, is
often on one side of the head, and is often associated with
nausea, vomiting, and sensitivity to light, sound, and odors.
Components that can trigger a “migraine headache” can
be food, caffeine, alcohol, or exercise.
Cervicogenic headaches
originate from the joints, muscles, ligaments, and discs of
the upper neck. When these are damaged or dysfunctional,
nerve endings send pain
signals up from the upper nerves of the neck to the brain. On
their way, they intermingle with the nerve fibers of the
trigeminal nerve, which is responsible for the perception of
head pain, therefore the patient experiences the symptoms of
headache.
Recent studies have shown that
chiropractic manipulation can be an
effective treatment for tension, cervicogenic and even
migraine headaches. Other treatment which has proven
beneficial includes massage, application of ice to the neck,
and medication. In more severe cases of cervicogenic
headaches, nerve facet blocks and surgery may be
recommended.
If you suffer from headaches,
start a headache log. Write down the time of day,
severity & duration of pain, any activity and any foods
eaten. Then seek help with a qualified physician; often a
combination of chiropractic
manipulation, massage, stretching, and ice can
make a world of difference.
Chiropractic Care Can
Help!
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