Headaches are one of the most debilitating symptoms a person can experience. When you have a headache that just won’t go away, it can be hard to work, relax, or even just think.

If you find yourself withdrawing from activities and generally feeling miserable as a result of your headache symptoms, this post is for you! In this article, we will dive deeper into the topic of headaches and explore what effect chiropractic care can have on this condition. 

What is a Headache?

Headaches come in many different forms. In fact, there are literally hundreds of different types of headaches that have been documented in the literature. For this reason, it can be difficult to discuss headache treatments that work for all different types of headaches, as every headache can have a very different cause. 

However, there are some general principles behind all types of headaches that can be applied when considering treatments for this condition.

Headache Symptoms

Generally, headaches result in pain and pressure being felt in different places around the head. For instance, some headaches will cause pain around the sinuses, while others will cause pressure only in the front of the head.

Each of these types of headaches results from a distinct condition, which leads to a particular kind of headache.

Other common symptoms of headaches include:

  • Sensitivity to light, sound, and smell.
  • Fatigue.
  • Irritation.

Of course, everyone will present slightly differently with their headache symptoms. No two people will experience the same headache!

Who Suffers From Headaches?

Truthfully, anyone can experience a headache from time to time. If you’ve been hit on the head, are very stressed, or are even experiencing dehydration, you may suffer a headache.

However, when we’re referring to chronic headaches, these tend to primarily affect those that are overweight, depressed, and generally self-described as “stressed out”.

Also, females, older individuals, and those of a lower socioeconomic status tend to experience chronic headaches at higher rates than their peers.

Headache Triggers

Headaches can often be caused by a particular substance or event. These are known as headache “triggers.” This is an especially common occurrence with migraines. 

For instance, a person who suffers from migraines may trigger an attack when they smell a particularly strong perfume. Alternatively, they may develop a headache when they unexpectedly encounter a bright light or are met with another intense sensory experience.

Headache Treatments

Often, the recommended treatments for headaches will be quite general. For example, you might be advised to lie down, turn off the lights, and wait until the headache subsides. Or, you may need to simply close your eyes for a few minutes until the worst symptoms have passed. 

Other treatments include options such as massages and muscle “release” techniques. This involves putting pressure through the muscles in the back of the skull with one’s hands or another object. In doing so, you can often feel the muscles begin to relax within a few seconds or minutes of initiating the pressure. This is an extremely effective technique for cervicogenic headaches, or those that originate in the neck.

However, this treatment does not work for all types of headaches.  Interestingly, chiropractic care can serve as a quick and incredibly effective remedy for many types of headaches. By manipulating the spine in very specific ways, chiropractors can often resolve the symptoms of headaches. In fact, after only one chiropractic treatment, many patients walk out the door with significantly decreased pain.

Do you suffer from chronic, debilitating headaches? If this sounds like you, you should consider trying chiropractic care for your needs. Our team at At Last Chiropractic, your go-to chiropractor in Lithia FL, uses the best, research-backed treatments to get you feeling better quickly. Book your appointment today.