Headaches

Headaches are by far the number one health complaint in America. Literally millions of people suffer from them. Many things can cause a headache: strong smells; intense lights; sinus trouble; high blood pressure; dental problems; ear, eye, or vision conditions; fevers; infections; tumors; seizures; certain foods; hormonal changes; too much or too little sleep; alcoholic drinks; drugs; accidents; and many other causes. You can get a headache just worrying about all the things that cause them. And that leads us to the most common headache of them all -- the muscle tension, worry, or “stress” headache that makes up 90% of all headaches.

Recurring Headaches

Recurring headaches mean something is wrong. Tension headaches are very common due to daily stress. Vascular headaches (migraines and cluster) can make it almost impossible to function. Vertebrogenic headaches are caused by problems in the neck. Whatever the cause, headaches can be troublesome and, at times, debilitating.

Causes

The ache in headache does not come from the brain -- your brain can feel no sensation. Even during brain surgery, the patient is often awake, feeling no pain. What puts the “ache” in your headache? Veins and arteries inside the brain and skull, membranes that wrap around the brain, and certain nerves in the head called the cranial nerves. When these are pulled, stretched, compressed, irritated, inflamed, or infected, headaches often result.

Treatment

Headache treatment depends on what caused it. A headache arising from visual problems can often be cured by eyeglasses. An infection headache of the sinuses or ears is relieved when the infection subsides. But the most common headaches are caused by vertebral subluxations. For over 100 years, chiropractors have observed an intimate relationship between the spine and headaches. Many migraine patients (both adult and child) have claimed relief with chiropractic care. So if you suffer from headaches, make sure you spine is healthy -- see your chiropractor.