Can Chiropractic Care Help with Headaches?

Headaches are extremely common. In fact, research shows that around 90% of adults experience headaches on a semi-regular basis. These can range from mild discomfort to severe or migraine-type headaches that result in a range of other symptoms in addition to just head pain, such as nausea, visual disturbances and even slurred speech. There are many different causes of headaches too with stress/tension and tiredness headaches among the most experienced. And while there are a lot of different treatments for headaches, an increasing number of people are turning to chiropractic care to help.

What is chiropractic care?

Chiropractic care is considered to be a holistic or ‘alternative’ approach to treating medical and health issues. Unlike traditional medicine, chiropractic is 100% non-invasive and drug-free, making it a fantastic option for people who are worried about taking medications or undergoing minor or major surgical procedures. Instead, chiropractic care uses a number of different manual techniques to align the spine, reduce pressure on the central nervous system and support full and optimal operation of all body systems. As a result, chiropractic care has a wide range of applications. And studies have shown that regular chiropractic treatments are very successful in both reducing the number of headaches a person has, and their severity.

How does chiropractic treatment help with headaches?

Chiropractic care can help to tackle headaches in a number of different ways.

Reduce tension

Tension headaches are extremely common and occur in times of stress or anxiety. Chiropractic treatment is based around realigning the spine so that all of the vertebrae are in the correct position. This can reduce pressure on the muscles and nerves in the back and that spread upwards into the upper back, shoulders and neck that can accompany or cause headaches.

Improve your posture

Posture can play a key role in the development of headaches. Poor posture places stress on the spine and muscles, which can result in neck and head pain. Chiropractic treatment will help you to improve your posture which will reduce symptoms of back and neck pain and associated conditions, including headaches and migraines.

Relax and relieve stress

Stress doesn’t only cause physical tension – it can cause emotional distress too – and when you can’t relax, headaches are more likely to occur, and they are more likely to be severe and to get rid of. Regular chiropractic treatment helps to alleviate stress and triggers the production of pain-relieving and feel-good hormones that relieve pain without the need for medications. Reducing your stress levels could also help to prevent future headaches.

Treat the cause not the symptom

One of the main differences between chiropractic care and medication is that medication only treats the symptoms that you are experiencing. When you choose to undergo chiropractic treatment, your clinician will be focused on also identifying the underlying cause of your headaches and resolving them. Since all body systems, including those which can trigger headaches, are affected by the central nervous system, proper alignment of the spine which balances the central nervous system could hold the key to overall health and wellness.

For more information about how chiropractic care can help with headaches, or to speak to us about your symptoms and concerns, visit Advanced Spinal Care at our office in Charleston, South Carolina. You can call us at 843-350-5022 to schedule an appointment.