Headache Treatment with Darwin Chiropractors

Headaches are a common condition that affect many people worldwide. According to the World Health Organization, almost half of the adult population has experienced a headache in the last year. Headaches can be caused by a variety of factors, such as stress, dehydration, lack of sleep, or tension in the neck and shoulders.

Do you experience any of the following?

• Dull aching pain in your head?

• Tenderness in your neck, shoulders, and scalp?

• Tightness or pressure on your forehead or the side of your head?

• Throbbing sensation in your head?

• Visual disturbances?

• Sensitivity to light and noises?

There are many possible types of headaches and migraines, which is why it is important for your chiropractor to establish an accurate diagnosis.

Tension headaches are very common in people who spend a lot of time sitting, especially those who work in front of computers. The pain often starts in the neck or base of the skull and travels around to the front of the head. This type of headache can present as a dull ache.

The symptoms of migraine on the other hand are often more intense. Many migraine sufferers will experience a severe headache and may have accompanying visual disturbances, sensitivity to light and sound, and in some instances nausea. Many people who experience migraine headaches regularly report they can feel the headache coming on.

Due to the close relationship between the nerves of the cervical spine and the head, many headaches can originate from dysfunction in the cervical spine (cervicogenic headache).

Common causes of headaches and migraine:

• Poor posture (head forward of shoulders)

• Prolonged sitting positions

• Dehydration

• Trauma or accidents such as whiplash

• Stress

• Dietary triggers (dark chocolate, red wine)

• Dysfunction in the cervical spine

• Underlying disease or pathology (rare)

Treating headaches and migraines:

Here at Align Life Chiropractic we take a holistic approach to treating headaches and migraines. We focus on the entire neuromusculoskeletal system including the spine as a whole, extremity joints, muscles, ligaments, tendons, as well as the nervous system. We also focus heavily on creating lifestyle changes that can improve and prevent future headaches. Reducing stress in your life is also a key strategy for long term success.

The first step in helping you manage your headaches is to ensure we have an accurate diagnosis. We achieve this through a comprehensive clinical history, thorough physical examination including; neurological, orthopaedic, and musculoskeletal tests, and possibly further diagnostic investigations such as X-Rays (if required).

Once our team has all the information required to make an accurate diagnosis, we will explain our findings to you in a simple and concise manner. Based on the information we collect, we can then tailor a treatment plan specific to your condition and goals. Our team is dedicated to helping you manage and prevent headaches in a holistic manner, so you can get back to doing what you love. If at any stage we determine that you need to be referred out to another provider we will be sure to find the right people for you.

Migraines are a more severe form of headache that can be debilitating and impact a person's quality of life. Migraines often come with other symptoms such as sensitivity to light, sound, and smells, nausea, and vomiting.

To see if Chiropractic can help with your headaches, book online with our Darwin Chiropractors today.