 People who suffer from ongoing headaches know that they have a debilitating effect on your life. In fact, more people seek medical advice for headaches than any other complaint.
The most common headache treatment is painkillers. Many people take pills for years, suffering the side effects of long-term medication without correcting the underlying cause of the headaches. Powerful drugs can numb your nervous system so that the pain doesn't register. While these approaches provide temporary relief, they do not correct the underlying cause of the headache and can damage your health.
There are many causes of headaches. Studies show that up to 95% of all headaches, including tension headaches, cluster headaches and migraines headaches originate in the structures of your neck.
Chiropractic looks at the relationship between the spine and the function of the nervous system. Poor posture, endless hours in front of a computer, previous falls and motor vehicle accidents can all damage the spinal joints of the neck. When the spinal joints in the neck are not functioning properly (referred to as a subluxation), many important structures in the area are compromised. Muscles become weak, blood flow to the head is often affected and most importantly, nerves become irritated. Nerve interference in the area of the neck causes referred pain to the head, around the eyes, and to the temples. The result is a headache. Migraines tend to be more severe and are accompanied by visual aura and disturbance, nausea, vomiting, numbness and irritability.
In one study of a hundred and fifty patients suffering from migraines, 98% experienced immediate relief of their current migraine through chiropractic adjustments of the neck. Studies have shown that the frequency of tension headaches and the need for medication were both reduced through chiropractic care. Relief of nausea and dizziness, often experienced by headache sufferers, was also reported after chiropractic adjustments
Scientific evidence supports chiropractic care as essential for those suffering from headaches. One doctor is quoted as saying, "the body of literature supporting a spinal origin of headache is substantial, and the case made...is compelling." In other words, if you suffer from headaches make sure your spine is in line --- see your chiropractor.
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