The sudden or gradual onset of a headache can keep you from functioning productively until and unless you do something to relieve the pain. Unfortunately, many individuals who experience recurring headaches turn to over-the-counter medication which is not only a temporary solution but can also be a dangerous alternative to natural remedies. 

Whether you suffer from headaches on a regular basis or experience one from time to time, doctors highly recommend doing away with pain relief medication and opting for chiropractic care instead. For your own knowledge, it is also important to understand what type of headache you may be experiencing, and how the pain in your head is caused.

Before we discuss how chiropractors can help alleviate pain and prevent headaches with chiropractic adjustments, let’s take a look at some of the most common types of headaches individuals experience at least once in their life.

Types of Primary Headaches

Unlike secondary headaches which indicate that there are underlying health issues causing pain in the head ( like brain tumors, for example), primary headaches are caused due to the inflammation of muscles, blood vessels, or nerves that are located in the head or neck region. Though they are painful and disruptive to one’s overall functioning, primary headaches are in no way life-threatening.

Here are some common primary headaches that you may or may not be aware of:

• Tension Headaches – Also known as ‘hatband headache’, the pain is concentrated on the back of the head, forehead, and around the temples. A tension headache will feel like there is pressure focused on these particular points of the head and later develops into a dull, nagging pain. 
• Migraines – Perhaps the most common type of headache, migraines are often experienced as a throbbing pain on a single side of one’s head. In some rare cases, the pain may be concentrated on both sides of the head and lasts anywhere between 2 hours and a few days.
• Cluster Headaches – Some common causes of cluster headaches include a blocked nose, crying, and heavy or drooping eyelids. The head pain is experienced on one side and typically occurs multiple times within 24 hours. Each time, the headache will last anywhere between 30 minutes and 2 hours.
• Hypnic Headaches – Of the four, hypnic headaches are definitely the least common, and typically affect middle-aged or older individuals in the age groups of 40 to 80. One will experience head pain globally and only at night, usually around the same time as before. Hypnic headaches may last as long as 1 hour, or as short as 15 minutes.

Chiropractic Adjustments to Alleviate Headaches

More often than not, a chiropractor can solve your mystery, recurring headaches with just chiropractic adjustments, and no medication whatsoever. From different types of headaches to severe neck and upper back pain, spinal manipulation will not only cure you of a headache but help prevent head pain for a much longer duration, unlike pain relief medication. Particularly if you suffer from recurring headaches such as migraines, realignment of the spine is your best bet in reducing the number of headaches you get. In fact, chiropractic adjustments can even get rid of headaches altogether!

How Spinal Manipulation Cures Headaches

The reason why adjusting the alignment of one’s spine can alleviate head pain (as well as other aches in the body) is owed to the reduced amount of stress caused to the nervous system. When this happens, you are able to move about freely without stressing or causing tension in your body. Proper functioning of the body is critically important in order to prevent body tension which ultimately turns into an ache. 

A trained and licensed chiropractor will use targeted treatment as per your symptoms, making necessary chiropractic adjustments to alleviate head pain and stress in your body. Many will also advise the inclusion of vitamins in your daily diet, and demonstrate specific exercises and stretches that will improve your overall physical and mental health, as well as prevent common types of headaches.

Lifestyle Changes Can Prevent Head Pain

Very often, the main causes of common types of headaches are due to poor lifestyle choices, work requirements, and personal affairs. To be more specific, mild to severe head pain can stem from mental stress, lack of sleep, poor diet, improper posture, excessive screen usage, and constant noise. Of course, these headache triggers can only be identified by a healthcare professional, after which, a diagnosis will be made and subsequent treatment provided. 

Along with this, chiropractors will advise certain lifestyle changes which more often than not, are minor adjustments that make big impacts. These may include taking a short walk around your office or home after spending an hour sitting down; stretching every day to relieve tension in your body; performing stress-relieving tasks to relax your mind; and so on.

If common headaches have left you reaching for the nearest bottle of pain relief medication, pick up your phone and look for a reputed chiropractor in your area instead. All you need is the right chiropractic care to make the pain in your head a thing of the past!