Most people experience headache pain at some point in their lives. Headaches can range from a mild, dull ache, to severe, throbbing pain accompanied by nausea. The location of the headache and the kind of pain you’re feeling are a good indication of the type of headache you have.
Tension headaches are the most common type and appear as pain almost anywhere in the head, scalp, or neck. As tension headaches are often due to a combination of stress and back or neck strain, chiropractic care has been proven to help provide relief for these headaches.
Some people suffer from migraines — throbbing headaches that can cause debilitating pain, nausea, and sensitivity to the surrounding environment. Migraines are often chronic, and the pain can last anywhere from a few hours to a few days.
When you feel a headache developing, your first thought might be to take an over-the-counter pain reliever. But have you considered a more natural alternative to treat headache pain? Research shows that chiropractic care, without medication, can be an effective treatment for a variety of headaches.
Here at McGowan Medical Centers, Drs. McGowan and Dr. Jenkins are experts in applying chiropractic techniques to alleviate headache pain. We’ll work with you to understand the cause of your headaches and find a chiropractic routine that helps keep you pain free.
According to the American Chiropractic Association, spinal manipulation is an effective headache treatment option for many sufferers. Chiropractic adjustment can improve acute and chronic neck pain, which can reduce the number of headaches you’ll experience — whether you suffer from migraines, tension headaches, or something other kind.
Using targeted methodology, we adjust the alignment of your spine to improve spinal function and alleviate stress on the nervous system. This allows your body to function more normally and reduces risk of stress and tension building until headache pain develops.
Seeing one of our chiropractors can help counteract the stress you face in daily life. Whether you spend long hours driving or you work an office job, stress can manifest in many ways that lead to headache pain.
When you come to McGowan Medical Centers for your headaches, we can also give you tips on posture, exercises, and relaxation techniques. Evaluating all possible causes of your headache pain helps us address the pain more effectively.
Our team believes in a multifaceted approach to headache treatment, which includes understanding your triggers. We’ll work to understand your unique situation to help you find the root cause of your headaches.
Some common causes of headache pain are:
When we determine that certain foods or environmental triggers seem to bring on your headaches, we can help you make small changes in your lifestyle to ward off these triggers.
Tension headaches can often be attributed to spending a long time in one position. Looking down at your phone or working at a computer can build muscle tension in your neck causing “tech neck” and making you more susceptible to headaches.
Prolonged periods in the same position can irritate joints and create muscle tension in your upper back as well. In addition to your recommended chiropractic care plan, our team often suggests that you take a break every 30-60 minutes to move around, change positions, and help ward off pain.
Overall, lifestyle tweaks paired with chiropractic adjustments can make a big difference to help relieve your chronic headache pain.
The next time you suffer from a headache, think twice about taking a pain reliever. Instead, call our office in Jacksonville, Florida, or request an appointment with our convenient online booking tool.
