If you are one of the many Americans suffering from headaches, chiropractic care could help.
Headaches Commonplace
The two most common types of headaches are tension headaches and migraines. About eight or nine out of every 10 people experience tension headaches at some point. Women are actually more prone to experience these headaches than men. They occur at the following rates:
- Women – 88%
- Men – 69%
Migraines are considered much more excruciatingly painful than tension headaches, but they are not nearly as common. Experienced by 16-17% of Americans, the migraine occurs in two types: classic migraine (aka migraine with aura) and common migraine (aka migraine without aura). Again, women are more susceptible:
- Women – 25%
- Men – 8%
Relief with Chiropractic Adjustment
When people suffer from headaches, the greatest concern is, of course, how to get relief. However, patients are increasingly moving away from painkillers, wanting to avoid some of the common side effects – such as constipation, hormone imbalance, weakening of the immune system, and depression.
Luckily, pain medication is not the only option, according to the American Chiropractic Association (ACA). “Research shows that spinal manipulation – the primary form of care provided by doctors of chiropractic – may be an effective treatment option for tension headaches and headaches that originate in the neck,” the ACA explains.
Research published by Duke University professors in 2001 determined that spinal adjustment quickly alleviated the pain of headaches caused by nerve impingement in the neck. The researchers found that the chiropractic therapy was preferable to pharmaceuticals in two basic ways: longer reduction of symptoms and fewer side-effects.
A prior study, featured in the Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics in 1995, had the same basic findings, determining that spinal adjustment successfully mitigated the pain of headaches. Furthermore, when treatment was stopped in two groups, one getting chiropractic care and the other getting prescription drugs, the positive impact of treatment only continued for the chiropractic patients.
Why Do We Have Headaches?
Luckily, headaches are considered to be isolated illnesses in the vast majority of cases: 95% are considered primary conditions, not arising from other illnesses.
“The greatest majority of primary headaches are associated with muscle tension in the neck,” says Virginia chiropractor Dr. George B. McClelland. He adds that the sedentary lifestyle in the US “can increase joint irritation and muscle tension in the neck, upper back and scalp, causing your head to ache.”
What You Can Do
Are you suffering from tension headaches or migraines? At Envista Medical, we can help with chiropractic care, spinal decompression, and other therapies. To claim your free consultation and 20-minute massage, request an appointment.