Headaches affect everyone at some point in life. They can range from mild to throbbing. The type of headache you get depends on the kind of pain felt and its location. Most people suffer from tension headaches and look for help using chiropractic treatment. Read on to learn how visiting a chiropractor for tension headaches can help.
What Is A Tension Headache?
Over 75 percent of people who suffer from headaches suffer from tension headaches. They occur as a persistent dull ache on the sides of the head. Most people describe it as a feeling like you have a tight band wrapped around the head.
Tension headaches have two main classifications:
- Episodic tension headaches – Within a month, these headaches occur more than one day but less than 15 days.
- Chronic tension headaches – Occurs for 15 or more days in one month.
Tension Headaches Caused By Misalignment
A proper diagnosis can help treat your tension headache. Your chiropractor has the appropriate training to detect tension headaches based on their symptoms. You may have visual disturbances, light sensitivity, tight neck muscles, and a limited range of motion.
Tension headaches can occur as a response to a trigger or stimulator. It could be a response to depression, anxiety, whiplash, or stress. Some physical activities can also cause tension headaches above your shoulders.
Tension-type headaches can be episodic or chronic. They can result from misalignment that may require chiropractic adjustment. Tension headaches start gradually and can last for minutes or days. They also tend to begin in the middle or the end of the day. You can also develop tension headaches due to a bad posture stressing your spine and muscles in your upper back and neck.
Can A Chiropractor Help?
Your chiropractor can help you get long-term relief from the tension headache you experience, especially if it is chronic. They can relieve the pressure exerted on your nerves and the muscles connected to your head, face, and neck.
Your chiropractor has the experience, training, and skills to identify and diagnose common triggers. They are also well-equipped to give you effective treatment.
Chiropractic Adjustments For Treating Tension Headaches
Your chiropractor will perform the adjustment on your neck and back depending on your examination outcomes. X-ray films or targeted methodology help them identify if you have any subluxations or vertebrae that are not in place. As a result, they will know if your nerves have any pressure exerted on them.
Most of the time, the stress exerted on your nervous system causes headaches due to the body’s inability to function normally. The manipulation helps treat the headaches and reduces the risk of tension and stress building up to cause headache pain in the future. The duration of a chiropractic adjustment varies. It mostly depends on how severe the misalignment is. Your chiropractor can take 15 to 45 minutes to relieve your tension headache.
For more about chiropractic care, visit Healing Hands Center for Integrative Medicine at our office in Montclair, New Jersey. Call (973) 783-1800 to book an appointment today.