If you suffer from headaches, it may be time to visit a chiropractor.
Even occasional headache sufferers know how frustrating and disruptive they can be. Do you find yourself reaching too often for pain relievers and wanting a more permanent solution? Chiropractic care may be able to provide the answer you are looking for. This post will share just how a chiropractor can help with headaches.
How can a chiropractor help with headaches?
A chiropractor is a doctor who specializes in the care of the spine. When the spine is out of alignment, it cannot function properly and causes issues within the body that can trigger headaches. By working with a chiropractor, you can pinpoint the cause of the headaches and work to find lasting relief.
A chiropractor will conduct an exam and then decide the best avenue of care. Chiropractic adjustments work to fix misalignments in the spine, called subluxations. These misalignments lead to tension in the neck and stress on the body’s nervous system. These are contributing factors to headaches. By returning the spine to a more normal state, chiropractors can help reduce the frequency and severity of headaches.
What types of headaches can chiropractic care help?
Chiropractic care has shown to be particularly successful with cervicogenic headaches, which originate from the neck, but it can help with many other headaches. These can include:
- Tension Headaches
- Migraines
- Sinus Headaches
- Cluster Headaches
Tension Headaches
Also called stress headaches, tension headaches are the most common type of headaches. Tension headaches can be triggered poor posture, a bad night’s sleep, stress, and other outside factors. With a tension headache, mild to moderate pain is felt on both sides of the head. Pain can also come up through the neck, crossing over the skull to the forehead.
Migraines
A migraine is an intense headache that can last from 4 hours to a few days. Migraines are felt as a pulsing or throbbing pain to one side of the head. Migraine pain can also occur in different parts of the head, face, or neck. With migraines you may experience symptoms such nausea and sensitivity to light.
Sinus Headaches
Sinus headaches are caused by an inflammation of the sinus cavities in your head. Pain in the front of your face that extends through the cheeks and forehead is most likely a sinus headache. You may have other symptoms, such as a runny nose or the feeling that your ears are clogged.
Cluster Headaches
Cluster headaches are headaches that occur in patterns or “clusters.” These are severe headaches that occur in groups over a period of time, usually ranging from a few weeks to a few months. With a cluster headache, the pain is felt on one side of the head. The eye on the side of the head experiencing the pain may droop, have a small pupil, or become red. A stuffy or runny nose can also occur.
The Proof is in the Pain Relief
Studies have shown chiropractic adjustment to be as or more effective than medications at helping with headaches. The more pain relievers you take, the more you will need as your body grows used to the drug. Medication dependency can lead to more headaches or other significant issues. The goal of chiropractic care is to address the root cause and then keep headaches from reoccurring by optimizing the health of the whole human system.
Suffering from headaches in the Central Florida area?
Do you suffer from migraines or headaches? Our team at ProCare Oviedo Chiropractors would love to help get to the source of the issue. Make an appointment to meet with our chiropractors, and let’s get you on the road to healing. We are conveniently located in Central Florida, serving Oviedo, Winter Park, Casselberry, and Chuluota.
