How chiropractic care can help frequent headaches

Headaches are very common among Canadians and can be very complex to diagnose. For some, they can seemingly strike at any time.

There are many types of headaches including tension-type, cervicogenic, migraines, and cluster headaches. One of the most common types is tension-type headaches. In fact, nearly 90 percent of women and about 70 percent of men report suffering from at least one tension-type headache during their lifetime, while 37 percent of women and 21 percent of men experience them regularly.

Most believe that headaches will simply resolve on their own. The good news is there are ways to both prevent and treat frequent headaches.

What causes a headache?

Headaches can have a number of causes. However, your symptoms can help your chiropractor determine its cause and what treatment you may benefit from. Fortunately, most headaches are not caused by serious illnesses, but in some cases they may require immediate medical attention. Your chiropractor can certainly help to rule-in and rule-out certain causes of your pain.

Commonly, primary headaches are due to over activity of or problems with pain-sensitive structures. Various structures in the brain or surrounding your skull and neck, like nerves, joints and muscles, can play a role in your headache. For some, headaches can be triggered by certain foods and even lifestyle factors like:

• Alcohol, particularly red wine
• Certain foods, such as processed meats
• Lack of sleep
• Poor posture
• Missed meals
• Excessive stress

Headaches can also be caused by pain referred to the head either from bony structures or soft tissues (e.g., muscles) of the neck. This type of headache is referred to as cervicogenic, meaning originating from the cervical spine and/or surrounding structures. This includes irritation and/or dysfunction of the cervical spine joints which can refer pain to the head. Treating joint dysfunction can help relieve pain and restore proper function.

How your chiropractor can help

A chiropractor is a spine, muscle, and nervous system expert specifically trained to diagnose the underlying cause of your frequent headaches.

They will perform a comprehensive history and examination to determine whether the symptoms are coming from joint dysfunction of the spine or other surrounding structures like muscles. The chiropractor will also rule-out other possible causes and refer to appropriate medical professionals when needed for additional testing or care.

By performing a thorough history, they may also be able to determine if any lifestyles factors (e.g., diet, alcohol, or stress) may be triggers for your frequent headaches.

The chiropractor will discuss your treatment options with you and answer questions you may have. Treatment options may include spinal manipulation or mobilization, soft tissue therapy, and other modalities. Exercises may even be prescribed to help correct your posture.

Chiropractors, as part of your healthcare team, can help if you are suffering from headaches. In fact, an Australian study found that 72 percent of migraine sufferers in a clinical trial experienced either “substantial” or “noticeable” improvement after a period of chiropractic treatment.¹

Take charge of your muscle, spine, and nervous system health, find a chiropractor near you.

---

^{Blog reposted with permission from the Alberta College and Association of Chiropractors.}