Headache Relief!
There are several kinds of headaches. However, the most common type of headache is the tension headache. This type of headache represents more than seventy-five percent of all headaches. The pain associated with a tension headache is frequently described as a dull ache surrounding the head or behind the eyes. For some people the pain is felt all the way down the back of the head and into the neck and shoulders. This type of headache comes on rather slowly and can be of a short or extended period of time. These kinds of headaches tend to approach rather slowly and gather momentum as the taught musculature continues to pull on the back of the head. They can last from relatively short periods of time to as long as several days.
The physiological cause of these kinds of headaches involves what is called subluxations in the upper back and the neck. A misalignment in the top cervical vertebrae triggers a small muscle to spasm. This in and of itself is not especially problematic but for the fact that the muscle, the RCPM has a tendon that connects to the dura mater. This dura mater tissue surrounds the brain and is very sensitive to pain. As the muscle spasms it pulls on the tendon connected to this tissue and the result is a headache. This sequence of events is frequently associated with acute tension and stress from our daily activities. The muscles of the upper back, shoulders and specifically the neck begin to contract and tighten. When in full “bloom” the physical tightness of these muscles that connect the head to the back at the shoulders can easily be felt. After a prolonged period of time they too will become sore and achy.
There is a significant body of evidence that indicates the adjustments made by chiropractors are highly effective in the treatment of tension headaches and especially those that have their origin in the cervical or neck area of the spine. Spinal manipulation provides immediate relief to the affected area and there is a added benefit to such manipulation. There are far fewer side effects from such manipulation than the frequently proscribed medications.
Every person’s physiology and condition is unique and a proper evaluation by a trained chiropractor should preclude any diagnosis or treatment. Nonetheless, chiropractors are receiving more and more patients as a viable alternative to the standard routine of medicating an ailment.
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