Headaches can be very disruptive to daily life and make carrying out normal activities difficult or impossible. Getting relief is essential to overall good health. Dr. Dan Monson of Able-Monson Chiropractic in West Valley City, UT offers holistic, natural, patient-centered chiropractic care. Relieving the pain is important, but getting to the root cause is equally important.
Symptoms of headaches
The obvious symptom of a headache is pain in the head. But it can be at the base of the skull, on the top of the head, like a tight band across the forehead, or in the temples and behind the eyes. But, many people have other symptoms, especially before the actual headache hits. They include:
- Irritability
- Mood changes
- Food cravings
- Nausea
- Sweating
- Auras
- Difficulty concentrating
Types of headaches
Headaches are not just one condition. There are different types of headaches. Some of the most common types of headaches are:
- Migraine
- Rebound
- Cluster
- Sinus
- Tension
- Cervicogenic
Causes of headaches
Different types of headaches have different causes. Some of the most common are:
- High blood pressure
- Stress
- Hormonal changes
- Muscle tension
- Vision problems
- Food interactions
- Jaw issues
- Head injuries
- Medication
- Whiplash
Chiropractic treatments for headaches
A chiropractor has treatments and therapies that can help to relieve headaches and reduce the severity and number of headaches that you get. This is particularly true of the kinds that have their origin in problems further down the body in the spinal column and muscles of the neck and upper back.
When the spine is out of alignment, the whole body suffers. By getting the neck and spine back into alignment, the stress is removed from the muscles in the neck and shoulders and they won’t pull as much on the head.
Chiropractic massage can also help to remove the stress in the shoulders and neck. It can help to break up the knots that form in the fascia and bring relief.
Interferential electrotherapy has been shown to be an effective therapy to treat migraines. The electric current affects how neurons fire and this can result in less pain and a reduction of inflammation.
Laser therapy can also be effective depending on the type of headache. The therapy increases serotonin and endorphins, which are nature's pain reliever and, especially when whiplash is the cause, can be very effective.
Lifestyle plays a big part in causing headaches and identifying the triggers is a huge help in stopping or reducing their number. Lifestyle counseling is part of total health and Dr. Monson will discuss changes that you can make to help with your headaches.
Visit our chiropractor for headache help
Headache sufferers in West Valley City, UT, can count on Dr. Monson of Able-Monson Chiropractic to provide relief for headaches as well as suggestions for prevention. Give the office a call at 801-966-5200 to make an appointment today.