Every day, 15.8% of the world’s population suffers from a headache.
If you are one among these, suffering from occasional or persistent headaches, it might be time to set aside the aspirin and meet a chiropractor.
Headaches – a cluster term for different types of head pain – is considered one of the most prevalent and disabling conditions worldwide, according to a Global Burden of Disease Study.
What triggers a headache?
Food, dehydration, noise, stress, insomnia – any of these could trigger a headache. However, some estimate that only a minority of headaches (5%) are due to such causes. The majority of headaches (95%) fall under the category of primary headaches, i.e., they are not a symptom of some other disease but the primary concern. Examples of primary headaches are tension headaches, migraines, cervicogenic headaches, and cluster headaches. Globally, the prevalence of active headache disorder is nearly 52%, tension headaches 26%, and migraines 14%.
Another significant contributing factor to headaches is the level of daily activity. Sedentary habits – spending hours in a single position in front of laptops, TVs, mobiles, etc. – cause muscle tension, which can irritate certain joints and lead to misalignments that directly result in headaches. Also, the current lifestyle of excessive screen time can precipitate eye strain, triggering migraines and screen headaches.
How chiropractic helps
There are several things that chiropractors do to minimize the disability of headaches:
- Assess, diagnose, and manage the headache to reduce its intensity and frequency.
- Perform spinal manipulation/ adjustments to treat severe and chronic types of headaches.
- Provide a range of exercises, relaxation methods, and ergonomic postures to relieve tension and prevent a recurrence.
What does a chiropractic adjustment for headaches involve?
In the case of cervicogenic headaches, your chiropractor may refer to X-rays after conducting neurologic and orthopedic tests. Once the cause is identified the chiropractor will perform spinal manipulation (gentle adjustments ) on the back or neck to rectify the misalignment.
Most importantly, chiropractic adjustments help alleviate ongoing headaches and reduce the risk or possibility of tension building up in those same muscles and nerves in the future, thereby allowing you to enjoy a better quality of life.