Headaches – Surprise It's a Neck Connection
• Did you know that everyone has either had a headache or knows someone who has had a headache?
• Over 40 million currently suffer from headaches (HA).
• 27% of Americans who visit alternative medicine because of HA.
• 57% of men, 76% of women report at least one headache each month.
• Cost of work lost and productivity is about 17 billion dollars each year.
• 80% of headaches are subluxation based!
Causes
• Subluxation irritates the nervous system sending the wrong signals to and from the brain that there is a problem, hence a headache (most common).
• Vasodilation of blood vessels
• Muscle spasms
• Chemical imbalance (serotonin, glucose, caffeine).
Types
• Migraines : family history, m/c females, certain foods (wine, cheese, chocolate, tyramine), visual changes (aura; seeing spots). Vasodilation theory.
• Cluster : m/c males, alcohol or smoking precipitates, tearing, many in one day/week and often seasonal, suicidal.
• Tension or Cervicogenic : Most common (80%), worse late day, suboccipital region, stress and prolonged posture related.
• 70-90% of whiplash victims develop tension/cervicogenic headaches.
• Chiropractic is highly recommended for this type because care is extremely effective in reducing the intensity, duration, and frequency.
Research
• Frequency and duration of migraines significantly reduced (90%) with spinal manipulation. Medication use was dropped by 94%.
-- (Australasian Chiropractic & Osteopathy, Nov. 1997; 66(3), pp.85-91)
• Chiropractic helps reduce frequency, duration, and intensity more steadily than medication use, soft tissue massage, or physical therapy.
-- (JMPT 1997; 20:326-330)
Testimonial
“I suffered with headaches for years growing up. Chiropractic took my headaches away after just six visits. Thanks for making me feel young again!” Loris H.
