Chiropractic Solutions for Headaches and Migraines
What You Should Know
By Dr. Tim Fargo, Chiropractor
Headaches come in many flavors, intensities, qualities and durations. I think it is difficult to talk about headaches in a simple way because there are so many different causes that can contribute to them. Migraine is a type of headache that is generally throbbing or pulsating, that is usually located on one side of the head, but can affect both sides. Migraines generally last anywhere from 4 to 72 hours. They are often associated with nausea, vomiting, sensitivity to light, sound or smells. Migraines also often have visual or sensory disturbances (called aura) associated with them. The problem with this categorization is that there is nothing clearly identified as a cause of migraine headaches and the medical solution is typically to try one medication after another.
Some types of headache are attributable to tension, as in muscular tension. Some involve the vasculature (blood vessels) in the brain. Some are considered to be more neurological (being caused by nerves or stress in the nervous system). Regardless of the type of headache, and even regardless of causation, there is often a role for chiropractic care. What you should know is that spinal misalignments, particularly in the upper neck, can cause nerve irritation, and that nerve irritation can result in radiating headache pain. It is quite common that our headache patients will have upper neck misalignments that cause both nerve irritation and muscle imbalance. In such cases, pressure points can be found under the base of the skull that, when pressed, duplicate the headache. In many cases it is simply a matter of correcting these misalignments through adjustments that will result in the alleviation of headaches, both short and long-term.
Vascular headaches are often the result of dilation (expansion) of vessels in the brain. An example of a vascular headache is a person who has been a coffee drinker and who is now trying to quit. Caffeine generally constricts blood vessels in the brain. Abstaining from caffeine causes dilation (expansion) of the blood vessels in the brain and this results in headache. Even under such circumstances chiropractic adjusting can have an influence on the part of the nervous system (autonomic) that regulates the tone of blood vessels.
Tension headaches are also very amenable to chiropractic care. Misalignments throughout the spine, and particularly in the upper neck, cause activation of the stress response in the brain. Adjusting these misalignments quells the stress response and this then can alleviate headache pain.
In addition to utilizing chiropractic adjustments to alleviate headache, the doctors at Chiropractic Health and Wellness are trained in nutrition and food sensitivity testing. We have often seen that chronic headache sufferers have nutritional imbalances and food sensitivities which, when identified and eliminated, will have a tremendous impact on headaches of all sorts.
If you or a member of your family is suffering with headache or migraines, then do yourself a favor and come in for an evaluation so that we can identify the cause and help create solutions for your headaches.
Find Relief from Headaches and Migraines
Don’t let recurring headaches control your life. Our chiropractors can identify the root cause of your pain and create a personalized plan for lasting relief. Schedule your evaluation today and take the first step toward clearer, calmer, headache-free days.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Can chiropractic care help with headaches and migraines?
Yes. Chiropractic adjustments, especially in the upper neck, can reduce nerve irritation and muscle tension that commonly trigger headaches and migraines.
2. Why do neck misalignments cause headaches?
Misalignments in the cervical spine can irritate nerves and create muscle imbalance. This tension often radiates upward, producing headache pain.
3. Do chiropractors treat tension headaches?
Absolutely. Tension headaches often respond well to chiropractic adjustments because correcting spinal misalignments helps calm the body’s stress response.
4. Can chiropractic care help with vascular or caffeine-withdrawal headaches?
Yes. Chiropractic adjustments can influence the autonomic nervous system, which regulates blood vessel tone, helping reduce vascular-triggered headaches.
5. Are food sensitivities linked to chronic headaches and migraines?
They can be. Chiropractors trained in nutrition and sensitivity testing often find that identifying and removing trigger foods significantly reduces headaches.
