The number one thing to ask to see if chiropractic can help with your headaches is “Where does the headache start”. Chiropractic will not be the solution for all types of headaches, but if the headache starts in the back of your neck and radiates up over your occipital region, this is called a Cervico-genic headache. This type of headache is often caused by either improper function of the cervical vertebra or improper curves in the neck. Either issue can cause irritation to the upper cervical nerves. This, in turn, causes headaches.
While over-the-counter pain medication may offer some temporary relief from the pain associated with headaches—it won’t get to the root of the problem and won’t solve what is really causing your headaches.
How Exactly Will a Chiropractic Adjustment Help With Your Headache Pain?
When you visit a chiropractor for headache treatment, they will perform spinal manipulation or “adjustment.” Typically for headaches, your doctor will perform spinal manipulation on your neck, but your doctor may also adjust your back as well depending on the results of your examination.
Utilizing a targeted methodology, or x-ray films, your chiropractor will identify different vertebrae that are out of place or have a subluxation and causing pressure on your nerves. Many times, this extra stress on the nervous system is what is preventing your body from functioning normally and causing headaches.
This manipulation will not only help with the current headaches you are experiencing but will reduce the risk of stress and tension building up and causing future headache pain as well.
What are some lifestyle Modifications to Prevent Headaches?
In addition to regular chiropractic adjustments, there are other lifestyle adjustments that can help prevent your headaches from happening in the first place. The first thing you need to do is pay attention to your triggers. What tends to cause your headaches? What events or situations tend to cause headaches the most?
For many people, the most common causes of headaches are:
- Stress
- Sitting with poor posture at a desk too long
- Spending too much time looking at your phone or computer
- Eating certain foods
- Dehydration
- Old whiplash injuries
- Postural habits
- Poor sleep habits
When you can figure out the root cause of your headaches, it will be easier to make the lifestyle adjustments necessary to keep them at bay. Simple changes such as drinking water, changing up your diet, mitigating stress or just getting enough sleep can all make headaches less frequent.
Of course, there may be other serious health issues that may be causing these headaches as well. With a full examination and a set of x-rays, your chiropractor will be able to determine if there is something more serious going on that could be causing your headaches.