Dealing With Headaches and Migraines

Headaches are not fun, and migraines are another level of awful. Living with either of these issues can make you feel grumpy, and in the worst-case scenario, leave you unable to function. Medication can help in the short term, but when the problem is ongoing or re-occurring, pills are not enough. Oftentimes, the source of your headaches and migraines is structural, and therefore with proper treatment it is possible to permanently overcome this debilitating issue. Headache relief at our Rochester Hills chiropractic clinic may be the solution your looking for.

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Headaches and Migraines in Rochester Hills

Whether you are dealing with a persistent ache in your head, or the worst symptoms associated with migraines, including light and noise intolerance, nausea, vomiting, hallucinations, depression, and irritation the cause may be a structural issue. When the spine moves out of position because of developmental issues, trauma, repetitive stress, and other incidents, it can put pressure on the surrounding nerves. When the nerves are compressed or irritated, they send a message to the muscles of the back, neck, and jaw to tighten.

This tightness can lead directly to an acute headache or migraine. Over time the tightness can also pull your bones out of alignment leading to more persistent headaches and migraines. A headache or migraine can be a sign that there are deeper problems arising in your spinal column, and because every other system in your body is impacted by your spinal health, it is very important to deal with these issues when the signs begin to arise.

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Why Do Headaches Start?

While many people suffer from headaches and therefore are very common, headaches are not normal. Headaches have many different causes and may be triggered by a variety of factors. These may include environmental stimuli, certain foods and lifestyle factors such as stress, poor sleep and poor posture. The majority of headaches are also associated with neck and shoulder tension. As Americans spend more and more time in a digital lifestyle, a fixed or repetitive posture such as sitting at a computer can increase joint irritation and muscle tension. Over time this repetitive stress factor can induce headaches.

Headaches can be a genuine and serious medical issue. In addition to the severe pain, headache sufferers may experience nausea, irritability, light sensitivity, sound sensitivity, and mood swings. Headache symptoms can be severe enough to cause missed work or significantly reduce quality of life.

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What Can Chiropractic Care Do to Relieve Headaches?

Research has shown that spinal adjustments to the neck may be an effective treatment option for headaches. In 2014, the Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics (JMPT) found that interventions commonly used in chiropractic care resulted in greater outcomes for the treatment of acute and chronic neck pain and increased benefit was shown in several cases where neck pain had been treated using a multimodal approach. JMPT in 2011 showed another study that found chiropractic care, including spinal manipulation, to improve migraine and cervicogenic headaches.

Your chiropractor will review a detailed health assessment of the patient and their headache history. After an examination, the chiropractor will recommend a care plan to minimize the pain and correct the underlying cause. By safely and gently restoring the proper alignment and motion, headache problems can become a thing of the past.

Doctors of chiropractic undergo extensive training to treat their patients beyond simply helping with pain relief. They know how tension in the spine relates to problems in various areas of the body and can take steps to relieve those problems.

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What Can Be Done to Prevent Headaches At Home?

Once the underlying problem has been addressed, the chiropractor may have several suggestions for patients regarding headache prevention. Staying well hydrated is important in preventing headaches. If you are already thirsty, you are dehydrated. Rather than staying in one position for long periods of time, frequent breaks are recommended. This can help avoid posture problems, as well as headaches. Healthy eating and regular exercise are always an important part of overall health. Postural strengthening will also be very beneficial in headache prevention.

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Chiropractic Treatment for Headaches and Migraines

Chiropractic care has a long history of successfully treating headaches and migraines. Chiropractors have an extensive understanding of subtle issues occurring in the spine which, due to its connection with the nervous system, is very often the source of pain. A chiropractic treatment starts with a thorough evaluation that will rule out other possible causes of your headache and examine your spine for issues of misalignment.

The assessment will determine the exact type of treatment that is necessary for the specific issue at the root of the pain. Using gentle and non-invasive techniques a chiropractor is able to achieve adjustments to the spine that, although they may seem subtle, can provide almost instant relief and restore your long-term health. Unlike medications which treat the problem on the surface level and provide only short-term relief, a chiropractic adjustment will address the cause of your headache or migraine and provide lasting results that will improve your quality of life.

If you are struggling with migraines or headaches call our team at Rochester Family Chiropractic today for help.