Headaches can often be a significant detractor from the quality of life for those who suffer from them. Missed days from work, lost time with family, friends, neglected interests, and hobbies can all take a significant financial and emotional toll on headache sufferers whose lives can be greatly impacted by painful, recurring headaches.
The impact of headaches is difficult to measure but it is felt significantly by the millions who suffer from them each year. According to a Duke University study, 20 to 30 percent of adults experience more than one tension headache per month. Headaches are often a symptom of other physical or medical issues such as infections, allergies, fever, drug abuse, sleep problems, food additives (like MSG), caffeine intake, eye muscle imbalance, misalignment of the vertebrae of the spine, reactions to prescription medication, dental abscess, menstruation, hunger, dehydration, and malnutrition.
When headaches are not the symptoms of other medical issues, the two primary types of headaches are tension headaches and migraines. Tension headaches often feel like a tight band around the head with a dull ache that runs to the sides or all around the skull. They can also start in the shoulders and move upward to encompass the head.
Typically, tension headaches can be treated with simple over-the-counter analgesics such as acetaminophen, ibuprofen, or aspirin. Rest is usually also helpful to relieve pain. If tension headaches are recurrent or the pain does not subside after taking over-the-counter medications, medical help should be sought to ensure there is not a more serious medical condition.
Migraines are more throbbing headaches that can occur on one or both sides of the head. They are often accompanied by nausea or vomiting as well as light, smell, and sound sensitivity. Migraine headaches can often be relieved by over-the-counter medications like acetaminophen or ibuprofen when they are taken at the first sign. For some sufferers, however, migraines often require prescription medications to relieve pain.
Keeping a headache diary is helpful for medical professionals to diagnose and treat headaches and monitor whether they may be indicators of more serious conditions. Diaries can also aid in determining if environmental triggers such as cigarette smoke or pollution may be contributing to the onset of migraines. Changes in diet and lifestyle can also aid in headache relief. Alternative care options such as chiropractic have also shown promise in relieving headache symptoms and even migraines entirely.
Chiropractic adjustments have been shown to be extremely helpful in the treatment of migraines. Because misalignments of the vertebrae of the spinal column can cause migraines, a chiropractor can help realign the vertebrae with gentle, highly skilled adjustments. In a recent study at Macquarie University, over 60 percent of migraine sufferers experienced relief through chiropractic adjustment. Some patients even experienced an elimination of migraines altogether.
Chiropractic care can work in conjunction with medical care to ensure the patient receives all facets of treatment to relieve headache pain, prevent recurrence, and help the patient return to a normal quality of life.
Author Resource:-
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