Besides the unbearable pain that headaches can cause, they also make it difficult to focus on anything and get through the day. But not all headaches are created equal. There are many different types of headaches, each of which can affect a person in different ways.
In this article, we will review the topic of headaches and demonstrate how chiropractic care can be a huge help for this debilitating condition.
The Various Types of Headaches
Headaches can occur for a variety of different reasons and they may be associated with multiple illnesses and ailments.
Interestingly, there are literally hundreds of unique headache types. However, the vast majority of people who experience headaches suffer from one of the big four: sinus, migraine, tension-type, and cluster.
Sinus Headaches
Sinus headaches are those that, as the name suggests, affect the various sinuses within the head and face. This type of headache is typically associated with an infection of some sort and it will generally resolve after a few days or a week.
Migraine Headaches
Migraines are incredibly painful headaches that also often involve sensory issues. For instance, many migraine sufferers report extreme sensitivity to light or sound while they are experiencing an episode. These issues can leave patients bed-bound for days due to pain and discomfort.
Truthfully, we still have a lot to understand about migraine headaches, their causes, and the best treatments. However, it does appear that migraines are associated with some form of “trigger”. A migraine trigger could be anything from an allergen, to stress, to something else entirely.
Tension-Type Headaches
Tension headaches are very common amongst office workers and those with high-stress jobs.
This type of headache is usually caused by tightness in the muscles and other tissues of the face, neck, or shoulders. Luckily, by teaching these patients how to manage their stress and performing some treatments to loosen up the tight tissues, the symptoms will often resolve quickly.
Cluster Headaches
A more rare form of headache is the cluster-type. This unique type of headache involves periods or “clusters” that can last for days or weeks. In between these clusters, patients can go for months or even years without any headaches at all.
Much like other types of headaches, the exact cause of cluster headaches is unclear. However, there are various risk factors for the condition including smoking, age between 20 and 50, and being male.
Typical Headache Treatments
Oftentimes, the go-to treatment for headaches of any kind is medication. However, medications do not generally improve the underlying condition that is causing the headache. In fact, these medications usually come with a laundry list of side effects that may be worse than the headache itself!
For this reason, it’s best to find a natural, effective treatment that not only relieves the headache itself, but that also resolves the issue causing the headache.
One such treatment that works wonders for many patients is chiropractic care.
Let’s take a look at how chiropractic treatments can help patients move past their headache symptoms and get their lives back.
Can Chiropractic Care Help With Headaches?
All pains within the body are, in one way or another, associated with the spine. For this reason, chiropractic care places a heavy emphasis on ensuring that the spine is in proper alignment in order to alleviate symptoms and improve function in patients.
By performing specific spinal manipulations, chiropractors can often decrease the intensity of headaches and help patients move past these painful conditions.
If you’re suffering from headaches or any other type of pain, come see us at Keystone Chiropractic today! We would love to be your go-to Plano, TX chiropractor. Book your appointment now!
