Do you wake on a daily basis with a headache? Do you suffer from frequent, debilitating migraines? Many times, headaches are caused by external factors like bright lights or loud noises, but other headaches start from the inside out and are known as primary headaches. At Vitality Family Chiropractic, Dr. Julie Peterson and her team offer patients who suffer from frequent or chronic primary headaches a range of services to renew overall health and relieve pain. Contact us to find out more or schedule an appointment today.
Causes of Headaches
Some headaches are caused by external factors. While we’re happy to help patients make healthier life choices and provide chiropractic alignment to ensure their bodies are functioning at peak performance levels, these headaches are typically not completely treatable with a chiropractic adjustment alone. However, some patients do notice relief from non-primary headaches or complete elimination of headache days with chiropractic adjustment. In addition to chiropractic care, patients will also be instructed to change some of the contributing factors. Common causes or triggers of headaches include:
- Foods and beverages – beverages, foods, and even gum that contain aspartame or artificial sweeteners are neurotoxins and often a trigger of food related headaches, but everyone reacts differently to the foods and beverages they consume
- Allergens – allergy and sinus reactions to a variety of stimuli can cause headaches
- Environmental stimuli – loud noises, lights, stress, etc. may cause headaches
- Behaviors – lack of sleep, over/under exercise, poor diet and nutrition, too much stress can all lead to headaches
- Illness or disease – headaches can be a symptom of a larger health concern, chronic illness, or systemic impairment
Prevent Non-Primary Headaches
The best way to reduce pain associated with these non-primary headaches is to remove the external stimuli that lead to them. Many patients experience significant relief by making a few minor changes to their everyday routines including:
If you spend long amounts of time in a fixed position, move around and stretch every half an hour
Low-impact aerobic exercise like walking every day is beneficial
If you grind or clench teeth at night or experience jaw joint strain, seek treatment right away
Drink lots of water as dehydration is one of the main causes of headache pain
Primary Headaches & Migraines
Headaches that do not stem from any of the previously mentioned external factors are known as primary headaches. The following types of headache are triggered by internal concerns, and can be improved through chiropractic care:
- Migraines
- Cluster headaches
- Stress headaches
- TMJ/bruxism related headaches
Chiropractic Care for Migraines and Primary Headaches
In keeping with our overall goal to help patients improve communication between the mind and body, we’re happy to provide a number of options to keep patients’ bodies whole and healthy. That includes chiropractic care to relieve headache pain and reduce or eradicate the number of headache days that occur each month.
