Headaches – The Problem
Headaches are a nearly universal experience. In fact, roughly ninety percent of Americans report suffering from them on a routine basis. Headaches interrupt our work, our quality time with loved ones, and our ability to sleep. Options feel few when a headache strikes. Do you push through? Take sick time? Pop a pill? Many Americans, in order to avoid dependency and unwanted side effects, choose to endure the pain rather than take medication. But why mask or brave the pain when you could address the root cause? Chiropractic care is a natural alternative to headache medication, and depending on the type of headache you are experiencing, it could offer both immediate relief and a long-term solution.
Headaches – The Root Causes
Most headaches originate from tension in the neck, however they may also be caused by small misalignments of the spine, called subluxations. When the bones of the spine are misaligned, the nerve and tissue pressure can cause irritation and inflammation, resulting in tension headaches. These subluxations are also often the hidden culprits behind debilitating migraines. Another variety of headache, the cervicogenic headache, originates directly from a lack of mobility in the upper cervical region of the spine. Such a holistic problem deserves holistic treatment, examining the body as an interconnected whole rather than isolating the problem to the location of the pain.
Headaches – The Good News
The good news is that chiropractic care can address all of these issues: neck tension, misalignments of the spine, and lack of cervical spine mobility. By treating the interacting parts of both the musculoskeletal and nervous systems, it offers hope for headaches beyond medication. In one Duke University study trial, spinal adjustments resulted in nearly immediate lessening of headache severity, along with longer-lasting relief and less side-effects than typically prescribed pain pills. Other studies corroborate this exciting potential for chiropractic care to reduce both the severity and the frequency of headaches, and suggest it is more effective than massage. In 2011, The Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics published a manuscript that compiled and reviewed 21 research articles selected under rigorous inclusion criteria. Encouragingly, the JMPT concluded that there is ample evidence to support the use of spinal manipulation and other forms of chiropractic care to improve both migraines and cervicogenic headaches.
Headaches – The Chiropractic Solution
If you are experiencing headaches, a visit to Dr. Weigle’ office may offer sustainable relief. She can perform an examination to determine if spinal adjustments and other chiropractic methods could help alleviate your head pain. By addressing any misalignments, Dr. Weigle is able to decrease inflammation in the spine, ease tension in the neck, and increase mobility in the upper cervical spine. Improved spinal function and relaxed neck muscles may be the key to soothing your headaches and decreasing their frequency. She may also recommend changes to daily habits, posture, and movement patterns to address the underlying causes of these misalignments.
Before you take medication for your next headache, consider whether a visit to Dr. Weigle could offer a better solution. Spend less time gritting your teeth, and more time living your life.