STRUGGLING WITH HEADACHES OR MIGRAINES?
Migraines and headaches affect far too many people in Newcastle and throughout Australia. It is estimated that approximately 28% of the Australian population suffer from migraines, which means Australian’s have on of the highest rates of migraines in the world. Migraines are more prevalent than diabetes, epilepsy and asthmas combined. Approximately 71% of migraine sufferers are women. The costs of migraines on the Australian economy are staggering with the direct and indirect costs of migraine approximating $35.7 billion per annum.
SYMPTOMS: MIGRAINES
If you’re not sure if you have had a migraine or not, then chances are you probably haven’t. The pain has been described as mind-numbing and leaves many sufferers unable to function.
There are many symptoms that can occur before a headache or migraine starts. Hallucinations, depression or irritation are just some of the symptoms that patients often report before and during a migraine. Migraine sufferers will usually try to avoid light and loud noises and experience nausea and vomiting, among other symptoms.
CAUSES: HEADACHES AND MIGRAINES
This is a topic that is still out there for debate and there is a myriad of potential causes of both headaches and migraines. Emotional stress, physical strain or exhaustion as a result of sustained poor postures, over worked, dehydration, strained spinal muscles, misaligned spinal vertebrae and disc issues are just some of the likely culprits behind headaches and migraines. Impaired blood flow to the head is also linked to causing migraines and headaches.
From a Chiropractic perspective, if the spine moves out of position it can put pressure on the surrounding nerves, muscles, tendons, ligaments and discs. It can also reduce or impede blood flow to the head. As well restricting neck mobility, these problems can also attribute to headaches and migraines.
TREATMENT OPTIONS: HEADACHES AND MIGRAINES
Traditional medical science is still unsuccessful in the treatment of headaches and migraines as most treatment involves medication as an attempt to cover up the symptom, but this does little to correct the underlying cause. For many patients, medication is not a long-term solution. Other interventions like botox or cortisone injections are also considered when it comes to headaches and migraines.
In most cases, it’s important to find the source of what’s causing the headache or migraine. At Transitions Chiropractic + Massage we know and understand how the spine and nervous system can impact and influence the body. When the spine is correctly adjusted and pressure is removed from the nervous system it can reduce or even prevent the occurrence of migraine and headaches.
Most people do not realise that a Chiropractor could help with headaches and migraines. It’s easy to fall into the trap of thinking medication is the only answer. But, it has been shown repeatedly that Chiropractic care is effective at helping people with both headaches and migraines. A benefit of Transitions Chiropractic too is that for optimal results, we can potentially combine Chiropractic care with Massage or Physiotherapy.
HOW ARE HEADACHES OR MIGRAINES TREATED?
As painful and frustrating as headaches are, notoriously headaches are a symptom and it’s essential to find out what is causing this problem. Your Chiropractor and their team will work diligently to find the source of your headaches and provide advice on how best to treat it. Each year millions of dollars are spent treating headaches with aspirin and other drugs. While this may help in some cases, it only treats the symptoms, not the source of the problem. Working together with a Chiropractor, with a little time and effort, we’ll be able to find the source of the problem and offer advice or a plan of action on how to deal with it. In many cases, this action plan may help you prevent the headaches or migraines and reduce the need for medications.
Don’t suffer needlessly with headaches and migraines. At Transitions Chiropractic + Massage our team can help you understand your condition and offer the best treatment. Contact us at any time and ask any questions you may have.