Headaches are one of the most common health complaints. On average, 9 out of 10 people report suffering headache a few times a year. And 1 in 6 people suffer chronic persistent headaches of 2 or more per week! 13 percent of the population suffer from migraine headaches; characterized by throbbing head pain often accompanied by nausea and sensitivity to light and sound.
Many people who suffer with recurrent headaches rely regularly on pain killers for relief. But the risk with such drugs is that they can eventually lead to serious and/or long-term side-effects. And because tablets will only mask the pain and not address the cause of a headache, sufferers will eventually experience a steady worsening of their condition where the headaches can become more frequent, persistent and/or severe.
What you might not know is that your Chiropractic Doctor could help you make that pain go away.
Notwithstanding the fairly quick pain relief most Chiropractic patients describe, Chiropractic treatment can specifically target, and in many cases correct, the underlying cause of the most common types of headaches affecting over 75 percent of all sufferers. This is a pretty good track record, and these results are backed up by a solid body of scientific research.
One such study, the Duke University Headache Evidence Report, found that Chiropractic treatment produced a “markedly superior result” over Amitriptyline, one of the most commonly prescribed medications in the treatment of “tension-type” headaches. The study also noted that Chiropractic produced “sustained improvement in headache frequency and severity” in the treatment of “cervicogenic headache” (where the primary source of the headache is in the upper neck and base of the skull).
There are also numerous studies that show very positive results with migraine headaches. Chiropractic treatment has been shown to reduce the frequency and severity of migraine in a majority of sufferers. It also appears to have a preventative effect by reducing one’s sensitivity to certain key triggers of migraine.
Postural headaches are the most common type of headaches in children and should never be ignored. Though they are generally correctable through early treatment, when unaddressed they can lead to a more severe degree of affliction in adulthood.
Doctors of Chiropractic are highly specialised in their level of training and expertise as it relates to headache. Once your headache is accurately diagnosed, your Chiropractor will usually suggest a course of treatment specific to addressing the underlying problem. This approach may be combined with home care, light exercises, and/or specific advice to address any lifestyle or environmental factors that may be contributing to the problem.
At our Clinic, we are tirelessly obsessed with providing our patients with practical solutions to headaches and migraine, and not merely short-term pain relief strategies with no long-term merit. For chronic headache sufferers, Chiropractic care offers a genuine opportunity to put an end to what can be a very stubborn and debilitating problem, thereby offering a considerable improvement in quality of life.