Chiropracticand Headaches

Almost everyone has had a headache. Headache is the most common form of pain. It's a major reason people miss days at work or school or visit the doctor. Headache is third only to back and neck pain for absenteeism.

The most common type of headache is a tension headache. Tension headaches are due to tight muscles in your shoulders, neck, scalp and jaw. They are often related to stress, depression or anxiety. You are more likely to get tension headaches if you work too much, don't get enough sleep, miss meals, or use alcohol.

Other common types of headaches include migraines, cluster headaches, and sinus headaches. Most people can feel much better by making lifestyle changes, learning ways to relax and becoming proactive in preventing them.

The most common treatments for headaches include Acetaminophen (Tylenol) and Ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) but these do not come without risks:

"Acetaminophen overdose is one of the most common poisonings worldwide," according to the National Institutes of Health. Taking too much of this pain reliever can lead to liver failure or death.

So what are some other options other than potentially harmful medications?

Research shows that spinal manipulation – one of the primary treatments provided by doctors of chiropractic – may be an effective treatment option for tension headaches and headaches that originate in the neck. A 2014 report in the Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics (JMPT) found that interventions commonly used in chiropractic care improved outcomes for the treatment of acute and chronic neck pain and increased benefit was shown in several instances where a multimodal approach to neck pain had been used.

Chiropractors gentle re-align the cervical spine allowing the pressure causing the headache to be alleviated. Additionally, Chiropractors may recommend certain exercises, nutritional supplements and dietary changes to help prevent future headaches.