ProCare Chiropractic Clinics
(207) 899-8720
(207) 899-8720
Drawings of Neck with Muscles, Bones:
Seen from the back.
Seen from the back.
Headaches: Cost, Causes, Cures
The throbbing…pounding…sensation of a splitting headache is an all-too-accepted condition for millions of people each day. As you read this, over 50 million of your fellow Americans have a headache. About 12 million have headaches EVERY DAY, and over 28 million suffer from
migraines.
These numbers are amazing. That means that roughly one in six people you pass by today likely has a headache!
If you have headaches, or know someone who does, you know headache can be a potent distraction that affects your happiness, your job and your family life.
The Costs
A study on migraines, released early in 2009, shows these cause an enormous financial burden on families and employers alike, totaling billions of dollars yearly.
And there is a personal cost of time lost from family, friends, and relationships. Some examples we've heard from our patients: "Daddy can't come out to play with you because his head hurts," or "It's OK - Mom doesn't mean it - she's just upset because she's having a migraine."
Even if your headache or migraine isn't bad enough to drive you into a quiet, dark room to be alone (yes, this happens very often for those with severe headaches or migraines), it's still very hard to have fun and enjoy life when you have head or neck pain.
A great many of you reading this are nodding your heads in agreement. We know from personal experience how true it is.
So - the numbers say headaches are common. But they're not normal. There's no such thing as a "normal headache." They are a departure from health and should be taken care of, like any other health problem.
Some Causes
Many things can cause a headache, including sinus problems, dehydration, sleep problems, alcohol use, or problems with body organs. High blood pressure rarely causes headaches. The most common cause is muscle tension or tightness.
The brain itself does not register the ache of a headache, but there are many nerves, veins and arteries that are wrapped around the head. Many of these If these nerves are compressed, pulled or irritated, a headache can be the result.
Also, cramps, tightness or spasms in the muscles of the neck and scalp (especially at the base of the skull) can put pressure on nerves in the area, causing pain at the base of the skull (top of the neck), over the ears, or over the eyes. Headaches caused by problems in the neck are called "cervicogenic," meaning they start in the cervical spine or neck.
Neck problems often cause or at least contribute to headaches. This can be from misalignment of the vertebrae and/or lack of motion in the joints of the neck, especially at the top. Trauma or accidents (such as car accidents, falls or near-falls, where you don't actually hit the ground) that aren't ID'd and treated, overuse, poor posture (as from extended computer use), habitually sleeping with chin tucked...these can all cause muscle tightness and joint locking, which, in turn, can cause pressure on nerves, which, in turn, can cause headaches or migraines.
You may also experience neck pain and/or stiffness, which can either come before or during a headache.
See the details of how this could happen on the diagram below:
Possible Cures
Bottom line: the cause of the problem has to be identified and treated, or the headaches will continue. We do this fairly well, giving us a success rate with headache and migraine that is close to 90%.
Many people resort to medication to temporarily dull the pain. Unfortunately, relief is often fleeting, and the cycle returns again and again. Sometimes overuse of headache medication causes more headaches! This is called "rebound headache."
But no matter how many pills are taken, if the problem is from joint locking and nerve pressure, the problem will likely remain. Biomechanical problems like this rarely respond to a chemical solution - they need a biomechanical solutiuon, like chiropractic care.
Help is often possible, and we have achieved incredible results for our patients with headaches from many different causes.
Why suffer? Ask us how multiple impulse technology at ProCare can be a part of successfully treating your headaches.
The throbbing…pounding…sensation of a splitting headache is an all-too-accepted condition for millions of people each day. As you read this, over 50 million of your fellow Americans have a headache. About 12 million have headaches EVERY DAY, and over 28 million suffer from
migraines.
These numbers are amazing. That means that roughly one in six people you pass by today likely has a headache!
If you have headaches, or know someone who does, you know headache can be a potent distraction that affects your happiness, your job and your family life.
The Costs
A study on migraines, released early in 2009, shows these cause an enormous financial burden on families and employers alike, totaling billions of dollars yearly.
And there is a personal cost of time lost from family, friends, and relationships. Some examples we've heard from our patients: "Daddy can't come out to play with you because his head hurts," or "It's OK - Mom doesn't mean it - she's just upset because she's having a migraine."
Even if your headache or migraine isn't bad enough to drive you into a quiet, dark room to be alone (yes, this happens very often for those with severe headaches or migraines), it's still very hard to have fun and enjoy life when you have head or neck pain.
A great many of you reading this are nodding your heads in agreement. We know from personal experience how true it is.
So - the numbers say headaches are common. But they're not normal. There's no such thing as a "normal headache." They are a departure from health and should be taken care of, like any other health problem.
Some Causes
Many things can cause a headache, including sinus problems, dehydration, sleep problems, alcohol use, or problems with body organs. High blood pressure rarely causes headaches. The most common cause is muscle tension or tightness.
The brain itself does not register the ache of a headache, but there are many nerves, veins and arteries that are wrapped around the head. Many of these If these nerves are compressed, pulled or irritated, a headache can be the result.
Also, cramps, tightness or spasms in the muscles of the neck and scalp (especially at the base of the skull) can put pressure on nerves in the area, causing pain at the base of the skull (top of the neck), over the ears, or over the eyes. Headaches caused by problems in the neck are called "cervicogenic," meaning they start in the cervical spine or neck.
Neck problems often cause or at least contribute to headaches. This can be from misalignment of the vertebrae and/or lack of motion in the joints of the neck, especially at the top. Trauma or accidents (such as car accidents, falls or near-falls, where you don't actually hit the ground) that aren't ID'd and treated, overuse, poor posture (as from extended computer use), habitually sleeping with chin tucked...these can all cause muscle tightness and joint locking, which, in turn, can cause pressure on nerves, which, in turn, can cause headaches or migraines.
You may also experience neck pain and/or stiffness, which can either come before or during a headache.
See the details of how this could happen on the diagram below:
Possible Cures
Bottom line: the cause of the problem has to be identified and treated, or the headaches will continue. We do this fairly well, giving us a success rate with headache and migraine that is close to 90%.
Many people resort to medication to temporarily dull the pain. Unfortunately, relief is often fleeting, and the cycle returns again and again. Sometimes overuse of headache medication causes more headaches! This is called "rebound headache."
But no matter how many pills are taken, if the problem is from joint locking and nerve pressure, the problem will likely remain. Biomechanical problems like this rarely respond to a chemical solution - they need a biomechanical solutiuon, like chiropractic care.
Help is often possible, and we have achieved incredible results for our patients with headaches from many different causes.
Why suffer? Ask us how multiple impulse technology at ProCare can be a part of successfully treating your headaches.
ProCare Chiropractic
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ProCare and Your Health
Non-Twisting Chiropractic
Proud Member Since 2010
Fast, Effective Pain Relief: No Twisting or Snapping!