Headaches

Headaches plague most people at some point in time in their lives. Symptoms vary from mild discomfort to severe pain that can keep the sufferer bedridden for days. The good news is that only 5% of headaches are caused by disease. The remaining 95% are classified as primary headaches. The most common ones include tension, migraine, and cluster.

Research suggests that chiropractic is a viable option for those that experience primary headaches. A Duke Evidence Report conducted in 2001 states that “Cervical spine manipulation was associated with significant improvement in headache outcomes in trials involving patients with neck pain and/or neck dysfunction and headache.” Additionally, the Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics states that “patients who received spinal manipulative therapy experienced a sustained therapeutic benefit in all major outcomes in contrast to the patients that received amitriptyline therapy, who reverted to baseline values.” Amitriptyline is commonly used as a preventative medication for migraines.

The following are tips that you can use on a daily basis to help reduce the frequency of headaches:

• When at work, take time to walk around and stretch your neck muscles. All stretches should be performed in a comfortable range of motion.
• Light exercise either at the beginning or end of the day will release stress that has built up in the body. If you experience headaches on a regular basis, stay away from strenuous exercise.
• Try not to clench your teeth. Muscles used for chewing are common culprits of tension headaches.
• Be sure to drink plenty of water. Dehydration can be the cause of headaches as well as false sensations of hunger.

If you are concerned about the origin of your headaches, consult a doctor to discuss both treatment and prevention.