Are Headaches Holding You Back?

Socrates said, “If you would seek health, look first to the spine.” Did you know that headaches can be a result of poor spinal health? Last week was Spinal Health Week (May 22 to 28), which focuses on improving the spinal health of Aussies of all ages.

This year shines a spotlight on the causes of headaches and the negative effects they have on families, workers and the Australian economy.

Migraine and tension headaches are among the most common headache disorders, both with disabling potential.

More Australians suffer from migraine or tension headaches than diabetes, epilepsy and asthma combined.

There are many causes of headaches, but studies have shown some of the most common causes are stress and spinal health conditions.

A wide range of activities that can cause spinal health conditions leading to headaches include sports and exercise, poor posture, physical activities, eye strain, dehydration, caffeine dependence and withdrawal, smoking and bright or noisy environments.

The three main types of headaches are tension and cervicogenic (neck-related) headaches and migraines.

Tension headaches are the most common, causing mild to moderate pain. Described as a ‘hat band’ tightness around the forehead, temples and back of the head, tension headaches are often triggered by stress or fatigue.

Chronic tensions, though, are those that persist for a long period of time or constantly recur, can be caused by ongoing stress and fatigue as well as physical and psychological or emotional health conditions.

Cervicogenic (neck-related) headaches are due to a disorder of the top of the spine involving the bones, joints, muscles or ligaments in that area.

The pain starts at the neck and can spread to the eyes, forehead and temples and can be moderate to severe, but not excruciating or throbbing.

Cervicogenic headache is often associated with mild to moderate dizziness, light-headedness or unsteadiness.

Migraines are a chronic and disabling condition that often begins with a dull headache and develops into a constant, throbbing and pulsating pain at the temples and the front or back of the head.

Sufferers can also experience nausea and vomiting and sensitivity to light and noise.

Migraines can be a complex and varied disorder with a range of severity, types and symptoms.

There are two types of migraine, those with aura and those without, known as ‘classic’ migraines and ‘common’ migraines respectively.

An aura is an important symptom that typically precedes the headache, one reason that some migraine sufferers can recognise when they are getting a migraine before it hits.

Suffers may also experience blurred vision, blind spots, and pins and needles in the face, hands or arms.

Often under-diagnosed and under-treated, migraines can be diagnosed by chiropractors who can also provide drug-free care that has been shown to decrease migraine duration and severity.

DD Palmer said, “There is a vast difference between treating the effects and adjusting the cause.”

(Daniel David (DD) Palmer is widely credited with giving the first chiropractic adjustment back in 1895.)

• Topics:

• Health & Wellness