Headaches are amongst the most common adverse medical conditions in Australia and worldwide, but the role of chiropractic care is often overlooked as solutions to this pernicious problem. Can chiropractors help you to deal with headaches and migraines? In some cases, yes, but how and why?

DIFFERENT TYPES OF HEADACHES & MIGRAINES

Some of the types of headache are:

1. Tension headaches: perhaps the most common type of headache, most Australians will have experienced a tension headache at some point in their lives. They are accompanied by mild to moderate pain and tension around the forehead or around the back of the head and neck.

2. Migraines: a much more painful experience, migraines are still quite common and can last for far longer than a ‘normal’ headache, anywhere from 4 hours to three full days. The pain is often throbbing and may lead to other effects such as nausea.

3. Cluster headaches: these much rarer types of headaches can be either episodic or chronic, lasting for weeks or months at a time. 

COMMON CAUSES OF HEADACHES & MIGRAINES

Perhaps you can isolate the root cause of your headache, if you’re experiencing one, but often the cause is not what one may have originally thought. Some common causes include:

• Momentary or persistent stress

• Poor back posture when sleeping/sitting/walking

• Certain diets

• Lack of sleep or food

• Dehydration

HOW TO DEAL WITH PERSISTENT HEADACHES

The first thing many of us do when experiencing a headache is to throw back a tablet of paracetamol or aspirin. For the infrequent headache, numbing the pain for a little while may be just fine, but they don’t resolve the underlying cause.

If you’re experiencing persistent headaches, particularly migraine or cluster headaches, frequent use of over-the-counter medication may not be the best approach so do speak with chiropractor.

Migraines and tension headaches often come about from poor posture, and specifically from an effect of that poor posture known as a vertebral dysfunction. The nerves in the upper neck become strained and irritated, and since these nerves connect to the face and scalp can transfer pain to these areas.

A professional chiropractor will diagnose the root cause of your headaches with the assistance of XRays or MRIs as necessary and will restore proper mobility to your neck and spinal joints, thus resolving the root cause of the headaches.

BETTER BACKS

If you’re experiencing persistent headaches or migraines, consider booking a consultation at Better Backs to restore your mobility and to improve your wellbeing.