If you have frequent headaches, you’re not alone: Recurrent headache pain is so common it ranks as the second most common health condition in the world. Luckily, you don’t have to let chronic headaches rule your life — Michael R. Lodes, DC and the team at Lodes Chiropractic Center provide comprehensive care and natural, effective solutions for all kinds of headache pain, including chronic migraines. Call office at 302-477-1565 or book an appointment online today.
Headache Relief Q & A
What are primary headaches?
Primary headaches are caused by a problem in your head’s pain-sensitive structures, which includes the nerves, blood vessels, and muscles around your skull, as well as the chemical activity within your brain. Although there are more than 150 distinct types of primary headache pain, these three headache types are most common:
Tension headaches
As the leading cause of chronic head pain, tension headaches cause mild to moderate pain that comes and goes over time. They’re mainly driven by muscles contracting around your skull.
Migraine headaches
Migraines are moderate-to-severe headaches that typically cause pounding, throbbing pain. They’re often accompanied by other intense symptoms, including sensitivity to light and noise. Migraines may last for a few hours or several days and can interfere with daily life.
Cluster headaches
These headaches bring severe pain that may cause throbbing, burning, or piercing sensations, usually behind one eye. They typically emerge several times a day during a so-called “cluster” period; they can also disappear for long stretches of time, sometimes years, before recurring.
What are secondary headaches?
Unlike primary headaches, which begin within the pain-sensitive structures of your head, secondary headaches are brought on by a separate illness, disorder, or condition that triggers the pain-sensitive structures in your head.
Secondary headaches are most often associated with conditions that affect the cervical spine, such as facet syndrome, or pain between the joints of your spine. They can also be caused by temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders, a chronic condition that often gives rise to persistent jaw tension and head pain.
What are common migraine triggers?
Headache experts don’t completely understand exactly what prompts a reaction in the pain-sensitive structures in your head, but they do know that migraines can be set off by specific triggers. Common migraine triggers include:
- Female hormonal changes
- Increased stress or fatigue
- Shifts in sleep patterns
- Intense sensory stimuli
- Weather and/or seasonal changes
Drinking too much alcohol (particularly red wine) can also trigger a migraine episode, as can consuming too much caffeine. Some people get migraines after eating salty, processed foods.
How is headache pain treated?
Chiropractic care can be very effective for treating persistent headache pain of all kinds, including chronic migraines. If your problem is rooted in a misalignment in your cervical spine, a comprehensive plan that incorporates spinal adjustments, and corrective stretches may be all you need for long-lasting relief.
In addition to investigating your personal headache triggers and offering concrete advice on how to correct them, Dr. Lodes and our team also offer therapeutic laser treatments to improve circulation, reduce inflammation, and promote healing in the pain-sensitive structures of your head.
If you’re ready to put an end to chronic headaches, call Lodes Chiropractic Center at 302-477-1565 or book an appointment online today.
