Headaches
affect just about everyone at some point and they can present
themselves in many different ways.
Some people only
experience pain in one part of their head or behind their eyes, some
people experience a pounding sensation inside their whole head, and
some people even experience nausea, while others do not.
The
pain itself may be dull or sharp and may last for anywhere from a few
minutes to a few days.
Fortunately, very few headaches have
serious underlying causes, but those that do require urgent medical
attention.
While many believe headaches are a normal part of
life, headaches are not normal, but common when the body is not
functioning the way it was designed.
Although headaches can be
due to a wide variety of causes, such as drug reactions,
temporomandibular joint dysfunction (TMJ), tightness in the neck
muscles, low blood sugar, high blood pressure, stress and fatigue,
the majority of recurrent headaches are of two types: tension
headaches (also called cervicogenic headaches) and migraine
headaches. There is a third, less common, type of headaches called a
cluster headache that is a cousin to the migraine.
Chiropractic
Care for Headaches
Numerous research studies have shown that
chiropractic adjustments are very effective for restoring function in
the neck and helping tension headaches, especially headaches that
originate in the neck.
A report released in 2001 by
researchers at the Duke University Evidence-Based Practice Center in
Durham, NC, found that "spinal adjustments resulted in almost
immediate improvement for those headaches that originate in the neck,
and had significantly fewer side effects and longer-lasting relief of
tension-type headache than commonly prescribed medications."
These findings support an earlier study published in the
Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics that found
spinal adjustments to be very effective for treating tension
headaches. This study also found that those who stopped chiropractic
treatment after four weeks continued to experience a sustained
benefit in contrast to those patients who received pain
medication.
Each individual's case is different and requires a
thorough evaluation before a proper course of chiropractic care can
be determined. However, in most cases of tension headaches,
significant improvement is accomplished through adjustments of the
upper two cervical vertebrae, coupled with adjustments to the
junction between the cervical and thoracic spine. This is also
helpful in most cases of migraine headaches, as long as food and
lifestyle triggers are avoided as well.
Headache Trigger
Points
Trigger point therapy for headaches tends to involve
four muscles: the Splenius muscles, the Suboccipitals, the
Sternocleidomastoid (SCM) and the Trapezius. The Splenius muscles are
comprised of two individual muscles – the Splenius Capitis and the
Splenius Cervicis. Both of these muscles run from the upper back to
either the base of the skull (splenius capitis) or the upper cervical
vertebrae (splenius cervicis). Trigger points in the Splenius muscles
are a common cause of headache pain that travels through the head to
the back of the eye, as well as to the top of the head.
The
Suboccipitals are actually a group of four small muscles that are
responsible for maintaining the proper movement and positioning
between the first cervical vertebra and the base of the skull.
Trigger points in these muscles will cause pain that feels like it's
inside the head, extending from the back of the head to the eye and
forehead. Often times it will feel like the whole side of the head
hurts, a pain pattern similar to that experienced with a
migraine.
The Sternocleidomastoid (SCM) muscle runs from the
base of the skull, just behind the ear, down the side of the neck to
attach to the top of the sternum (breastbone). Although most people
are not aware of the SCM trigger points, their effects are
widespread, including referred pain, balance problems and visual
disturbances. Referred pain patterns tend to be deep eye pain,
headaches over the eye and can even cause earaches. Another unusual
characteristic of SCM trigger points is that they can cause
dizziness, nausea and unbalance.
The trapezius muscle is the
very large, flat muscle in the upper and mid back. A common trigger
point located in the very top of the Trapezius muscle refers pain to
the temple and back of the head and is sometimes responsible for
headache pain. This trigger point is capable of producing satellite
trigger points in the muscles in the temple or jaw, which can lead to
jaw or tooth pain.
Avoid Headache Triggers
Stress may
be a trigger, but certain foods, odors, menstrual periods, and
changes in weather are among many factors that may also trigger
headache.
Emotional factors such as depression, anxiety,
frustration, letdown, and even pleasant excitement may be associated
with developing a headache.
Keeping a headache diary will help
you determine whether factors such as food, change in weather, and/or
mood have any relationship to your headache pattern.
Repeated
exposure to nitrite compounds can result in a dull, pounding headache
that may be accompanied by a flushed face. Nitrite, which dilates
blood vessels, is found in such products as heart medicine and
dynamite, but is also used as a chemical to preserve meat. Hot dogs
and other processed meats containing sodium nitrite can cause
headaches.
Eating foods prepared with monosodium glutamate
(MSG) can result in headache. Soy sauce, meat tenderizer, and a
variety of packaged foods contain this chemical which is touted as a
flavor enhancer.
Headache can also result from exposure to
poisons, even common household varieties like insecticides, carbon
tetrachloride, and lead. Children who ingest flakes of lead paint may
develop headaches. So may anyone who has contact with lead batteries
or lead-glazed pottery.
Foods that are high in the amino acid
tyramine should also be avoided, such as ripened cheeses (cheddar,
brie), chocolate, as well as any food pickled or fermented
foods.
Caffeine can help headaches but can also be a cause too
when the caffeine wears off.
Sugar and high fructose corn
syrup can initiate headaches and should be avoided.
Since food
sensitivities can be a trigger for headaches, we recommend food
sensitivity testing. In our office, we use this testing when we find
foods to play a part in this debilitating problem.
Call us at
(609) 484-9300.
Or click the link below to schedule an
appointment.
http://www.drgitto.com/hylnet/clientapp/appointmen...
You
can also visit us on the web at www.drgitto.com/
We can help
you live an active-healthy lifestyle and enjoy every season of
life.
Like our Facebook Page and
Share!