Headaches and Chiropractic Treatment

There are three common types of headaches: cervicogenic, tension and migraine. These are called primary headaches, meaning they are not caused by a disease.

Headaches are caused by triggers. Some triggers are:

Food
Stress
Lights
Noise
Insomnia
Teeth clenching
Blood sugar changes
Dehydration

Headaches vary in frequency and intensity from dull and throbbing to severely agonizing. Sometimes nausea can accompany headaches.

Cervicogenic Headaches

Cervicogenic headaches originate from the neck. These headaches are usually dull and throbbing. The pain can be on one or both sides of the head. The pounding may be in the temples, forehead, behind the eyes or the back, top or upper sides of the head.

Cervicogenic headaches are triggered by damaged neck joints, ligaments, muscles or discs.

Tension Headaches

The reason why tension headaches occur is not known. Tension headaches cause frequent squeezing-like pain at the back and front of the head. Stress, fatigue, noise and glare tend to worsen symptoms of tension headaches. You may find concentration is difficult with a tension headache.

Migraine Headaches

Migraine headache sufferers are usually women between the ages of 10 and 40. Hormonal changes are the most common trigger of migraine headaches. Two-thirds of women will suffer from migraine headaches especially during monthly menstruation. These headaches tend to peak at puberty and disappear after menopause.

Food is another common denominator for triggering migraine headaches. The following may be responsible for the onset of migraine headaches:

alcohol, especially red wine and beer
tobacco
aged cheeses
chocolate
fermented, pickled or marinated foods
monosodium glutamate (MSG)
aspartame
caffeine

Other non-food triggers for migraine headaches are stress, emotional upset, pharmaceuticals, hunger, sleeping pattern changes and barometric pressure changes.

Migraine headaches can last for hours or days.

There are two types of migraine headaches: classic and common.

Classic migraine headaches are often foreshadowed by flashes of light, double vision or lines with vivid colours, known as an "aura". Within 15 to 30 minutes of the aura, crushing pain follows, sometimes with nausea. Usually only one side of the head is affected.
Common migraine headaches do not have auras and effect both sides of the head. Tight neck muscles and scalp tenderness may be present with these migraine headaches.

Clinical studies have been conducted to assess whether chiropractic treatment for headaches is beneficial. Several of the studies have shown chiropractic treatment to be of help.^ref

Another study compared participants who received Chiropractic spinal adjustments with those who took Elavil (amitriptyline). There was also a third group of participants who were given both spinal manipulation and Elavil at the same time. Results reported both the spinal manipulation group and Elavil group obtained relief, but the spinal manipulation group had fewer side effects and the improvement lasted longer. There was no extra benefit to having both spinal manipulation and Elavil at the same time. ^ref

Spinal manipulation for headaches may be a more cost-effective and beneficial approach to reduction of all three common types of headaches. If you suffer from chronic headaches, your cervical curve may be abnormal. Restoration of your cervical curve through spinal manipulation may give you relief from dehabilitating headaches.