Seven out of every ten Americans will have a headache this year.  What causes headaches? What can you do to minimize the pain or even eliminate the cause?

Primary Headaches are not related to an underlying disease process such as stroke, cancer, drug reactions, etc.  There are three main types: Migraine, Tension, and Cluster.  Secondary Headaches are caused by life-threatening and non-life-threatening underlying diseases.  Secondary Headaches include infections, tumors, vascular (including aneurysm), drug-induced, or idiopathic (cause unknown). 

Can headaches be treated or managed without drugs?  For most people the answer is yes.  Many people find relief from headaches, even migraines, through chiropractic care.  Up to 50% of headaches may have a portion of their origin in the neck.  Neck-based headaches are technically called cervicogenic.  By manipulating the tissues and bones of the neck, doctors of chiropractic can decrease irritation to tissues that cause headaches and the effect is powerful enough to rival or even out-perform many medications, without medication-induced Rebound Headaches. 

A 1995 study compared neck adjustments as commonly performed by doctors of chiropractic to the drug Amitriptyline, a pill used to treat headache as well as depression.  The study concluded that not only were neck adjustments an effective treatment for tension headaches, but the effects tended to last longer and decreased need for over-the-counter medication.

Are you suffering from headaches?  If so, we may be able to help.  To schedule an appointment give us a call at (630) 553-7737 today!