Headaches are one of the most common causes of pain. They are too common that 45 million Americans deal with them every year, with over 8 million visiting their doctors. Even patients who seek Upper Cervical Chiropractic bring up concerns about headaches that interfere with their daily lives.
The pain caused by headaches can be chronic or happen at least 15 days a month. That’s practically half the month, while some may appear irregularly.
Did you know that there are many different kinds of headaches? According to the International Headache Society, there are about 150 different types of headaches. These are classified into primary, secondary, and other. However, experts have seen a link between a misalignment in the upper cervical spine and various types of headaches.
How Upper Cervical Chiropractic Care Helps Alleviate Headaches
Headaches that stem from the upper cervical spine involve misalignment of your C1 bone, also called the atlas, and C2 bone, also called the axis. These bones may misalign easily due to their position and function. In addition, freak accidents (such as car accidents, sports injuries, physical trauma to the neck or head, and even simple falls, slips, slides, or trips) can cause misalignments in these bones.
A misalignment in the upper cervical spine potentially impacts your brainstem negatively, which can lead to its malfunction. In addition, this misalignment can potentially limit the flow of blood and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) to the brain, leading to different types of headaches.
Chiropractic doctors can correct these misalignments using the Upper Cervical Chiropractic technique, a unique chiropractic care focusing only on the atlas and axis bones. Board-certified Upper Cervical doctors move your C1 and C2 bones back to their proper alignment through safe, gentle, and highly precise adjustments. By encouraging your bones to move back, your body can naturally heal and relieve you from uncomfortable headaches and other symptoms. This type of relief can also last longer and help prevent a recurrence.
If you are keen to explore Upper Cervical Chiropractic care and adjustments, you can find a reputable Upper Cervical Chiropractic doctor near you by checking out our directory and narrowing down your search based on your location. This way you can visit a place that is closer to your home.
Common Headache Types + Symptoms
If you experience these types of headaches regularly, perhaps it’s time to visit an Upper Cervical doctor near you who can help put an end to your pain and suffering.
Migraines
One of the well-known conditions that bring severe headaches is migraine. Migraines can stem from an inflammation of the arteries and blood vessels in the brain. Your nervous system also plays a role in the development of migraines. If you experience migraine, you know that throbbing and pounding headaches frequently happen on one side of the head or in the temple area. In addition, you may also notice some migraines to have visual disturbances like flashes of light. These visual disturbances can serve as your warning sign for a migraine that is about to happen. Their accompanying symptoms include dizziness, vomiting, nausea, and sensitivity to sound and light.
Migraines can significantly interfere with your life and cause you to miss work or school days, eventually taking over your life. Identifying your migraine triggers can help you lessen your chances of an attack. You can also ask for an Upper Cervical Chiropractor’s help to manage your migraine and its accompanying symptoms to regain control over your life.
Eye Strain Headaches
People who spend excessive time on their computers or TV screens are often the victims of eye strain headaches. Using anti-glare or anti-radiation glasses or tinted glasses can protect their eyes and prevent their headaches from worsening and becoming more uncomfortable.
Cluster Headaches
This type of headache does not happen often, and attacks can typically last for an hour. Cluster refers to its occurrence, meaning it can occur for days, weeks, or even months in succession. Once you reach the end of its cluster attack, they tend to disappear for months or even years. When a cluster headache attack happens, your hypothalamus becomes active and can stimulate a nerve pathway that brings pain in the eyes and cause blood vessels in the brain would swell. Your hypothalamus is a brain component that manages the autonomic nervous system and regulates your sleep, hormones, breathing, and related automatic body processes.
Sinus Headaches
Allergens can trigger sinus headaches, which can happen the most when there is a change of season, particularly during spring or summer. You can also experience fever, pain, runny nose, and sensitivity in your face and the front of your head. A saline nasal spray or humidifier can help reduce the swelling in your sinus cavities. For severe incidents, you can try taking some allergy medication. But finding the underlying cause of your sinus headaches can lead you to a better and long-lasting relief option.
Tension Headaches
This is probably one of the most common types of headaches. Tension headaches attack differently in terms of their frequency and severity. Some may have to deal with daily pain, while some experience irregularly occurring mild aches. Usually, it will feel as if there is a band on your head that can feel tight, as if something is gripping or slowly squeezing it. There can also be tightness in the shoulders and neck, as light and sound sensitivity can trigger stress and anxiety.
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