Headaches

Headaches are very common, and there are many different types and causes; people often suffer from more than one type.
If you suffer from stress, through worry, overwork or anxiety, a tension headache, arising from muscle tension in your neck and shoulders, may often be the result.

Even more debilitating are migraines - severe headaches which can last for several days, and may also be accompanied by dizziness, nausea, irritability, and vision disturbances. Some forms of migraine appear to stem from nerve stress in the vertebrae of the neck or may, again, be triggered by muscle tension.

Other causes of headaches include sinus infections, dehydration, allergies and visual strain for which spectacles should be prescribed.

Your chiropractor is trained to diagnose the cause of your headache, and treat you accordingly, or refer you elsewhere if appropriate. Treatment involves specific adjustments, particularly to the neck and upper back, and, particularly for tension headaches, soft tissue massage. This may also reduce the frequency or severity of some forms of migraine and allows the body to return to normal function and bring lasting relief. You may also be given an appropriate rehabilitation and maintenance plan to prevent a recurrence of the problem.

The painkilling drugs so often used to treat headaches do not address the cause, and so cannot bring the improvement that chiropractic can offer. Drugs only mask the pain.