What Kind of Headache is It and What Can You Do About It??

Do you have a headache ? No wonder. People are now experiencing more headaches than ever due to difficult financial times, stress, lack of sleep, and too much work. See which type of headache you have and discover how chiropractic can help!

SINUS HEADACHES: typically caused by changes in barometric pressure and causes pain in the cheekbones, forehead and across the nose area. The pain is constant and deep feeling. Stuffy or runny nose may also be present.

TENSION HEADACHE: stress causes the muscles in the neck, jaw and shoulders to tighten and go into spasm causing pain in the top or both sides of the head. Can be brought on by lack of sleep, stress, poor posture. This headache often starts in the neck and travels up into the head.

CLUSTER HEADACHE: More common in men than women. It causes pain that occurs in clusters that last about 15 min. to more than an hour and can occur several times a day. Like migraines, it causes pain on one side of the head often around one eye. Often associated with stuffy nose, watery eye or flushed face.

REBOUND HEADACHE: More common in women than men. causes a constant ache that starts early in the day. Can cause nausea, and insomnia. This headache is caused by overuse of pain medication. The medication taken to treat the headache actually causes one. It tricks your brain into thinking you need the meds. all the time, and once the meds wear off, the headache returns. The pain can vary in location.

MIGRAINE HEADACHE: 3 times more common in women than men. Causes pain on one side of the head often around the jaw, eye or temples. Causes intense throbbing or pounding that gets worse with physical activity. Can last 4 hrs. to 3 days!! Migraines are often preceded by a visual aura, nausea, vomitting. People with migraines often have light and sound sensitivity during the headache.

So, if you suffer with headaches keep reading... Studies in JMPT, a well respected research journal , show that chiropractic adjustments provided complete relief of migraine headaches in 75% of their subjects after 1 week of treatment. subjects also noted an increase in cervical range of motion and a reduction in dizziness. Another study in the New Zealand Journal of Medicine showed that chiropractic adjustments were as effective as amitriptyline and for Tension Headaches, the sustained benefit with the adjustments let to decreased use of over the counter drugs. Most patients we see with headaches can actually get off all their headache pills!!

Now, the following study is truly amazing and proves the relationship betwen spinal alignment and headache pain: Before 1995 no new muscles had been discovered since the 16th century. research of the TMJ. (the jaw joint) led to the discovery by assistant professor and dentist Dr. Gary Hack and scientists at the University of Maryland. They performed a special type of dissection on 10 cadavers. Their goal was to identify another muscle involved in chewing located in or around the jaw or neck. In addition to a new muscle of chewing ( mastication) they also discovered a connective tissue bridge that attaches the rectus capitus posterior minor muscle to the Dura at the atlanto occipital junction. In English this means they discovered tissue that connects a muscle in the neck to the pain sensitive covering of the spinal cord in the top of the neck near the skull. THIS WAS PRESENT IN ALL 10 CADAVERS) They speculate that the newly discovered dura connection may transmit forces from the neck muscles to the pain sesitive dura and into the head.

See your chiropractor today for safe effective headache relief and better health, and remember "Don't take a pill, call Dr. Gil"


Call 911 if you feel it's the worst headache you've had in your life,if you have loss of vision, see double, have weakness in your body,feel like you will pass out, or have trouble walking

Chiropractic...The best kept secret in Healthcare

Have you ever wondered why so many people have neck pain, headaches, or lower back pain? People now work on computers more than ever before.This causes an increased stress load on the lumbar discs, strains the cervical and thoracic region and often irritates nerves in the neck that travel into the head, resulting in headaches. Postural distortion over time leads to remodeling or long term changes in the position of our spines and thereby causes nerve and joint pressure. This ultimately leads to degenerative changes in our spinal joints and discs . Nerve irritation resulting from misaligned vertebrae can lead to a variety of symptoms, since the 31 pairs of nerves exiting from between the vertebrae branch off and travel to all the cells, organs and tissues of the body. Chiropractic is a natural form of healthcare that restores balance to the body allowing it to function at an optimal level without the need for drugs or irreversible surgery. It restores motion to stiff joints in the spine and helps improve postural distortions which occur from our sedentary computer oriented lifestyle. It truly is the best kept secret in healthcare. Let your friends know how chiropractic can help them also.

Avoid Spring Time Back Aches With These Simple Tips

Now that spring is upon us it seems many people develop back pain. Much of this has to do with the fact that we become more active after being sedentary during the winter months. Our muscles have gotten weaker, and lack of regular exercise during the winter can predispose us to back injuries. Follow these simple rules to stay pain free and keep your spine in top shape.

1. Avoid bending while twisting at the waist. Bend the knees while lifting, and dont twist your upper body. Remember the 4 S's Keep the object SNUG, lift SLOW, lift SMOOTH, lift STRAIGHT.

2. use a lumbar support when traveling or sitting at a desk. A rolled up towel with a magazine in the middle of it works great. You can also cut a 1 foot piece of a pool noodle. Place this in the small of the back to maintain the proper lumbar curve while sitting.

3. Don't sit on your wallet. Put it in your front pocket instead.

4. Don't sit for over 1 hour at a time. Get up and bend backwards several times to relieve the compressive effects of sitting.

5. Have a regular exercise program that includes stretching, strengthening, and cardiovascular training such as walking, swimming, or elyptical machine. Keep your abdominals strong and this will keep your back strong!!

6. Use a back brace prior to working in the yard or when lifting heavy objects. Remember not to wear this all the time as it will cause your muscles to become weaker and predispose you to injury. Remove the back brace after the lift or the yard work.

7. If you injure your back, use Ice for the 1st 24 hours and see your chiropractor as soon as possible.


"Don't Take A Pill, Call Dr. Gil"

Dr. Gil Kentof
http://www.drgpainfree.com/
615-794-0800

5 Myths about Chiropractors

Chiropractors are licensed and monitored by state and peer-review boards. Yet, few people understand what they do. This lack of understanding is the basis for many myths and untruths about chiropractors. This article addresses a few of those myths.
1. Once you go, you have to keep going.
2. Chiropractors are not real doctors.
3. I get massages Massage therapists work with muscles and chiropractors work with bones.
4. I don’t hurt or it doesn’t hurt anymore.
5. Children shouldn’t go to the chiropractor.
Just as in any other profession, there are good chiropractors and bad chiropractors. Interview many different ones until you find the right one for you and your family. A good chiropractor will focus on making you whole and healthy.
Have you ever noticed how many times a baby falls when learning to walk? How about a child on the playground? Rapid growth in babies and children make them more susceptible to injuries. Chiropractic keeps all those little tumbles from becoming big problems later in life. Chiropractors make sure the back and neck develop the proper curves. Chiropractic is very safe for babies and children. Waiting to go to the chiropractor is like waiting until you have a toothache to go to the dentist. The cavity has been forming for a long time, possibly years. It is the same with your bones and joints. Sometimes, you feel something move and know that you need an adjustment. Most of the time, however, you don’t feel the gradual shifting of your joints and bones. When you are under regular care your chiropractor finds these subtle shifts (subluxations) and fixes them before they cause pain. Massage therapy and chiropractic are very complimentary treatments. Most people will benefit from both. It is quite a luxury to get a massage and adjustment in the same visit. Ask your chiropractor whether you should get a massage or an adjustment first. The main difference between chiropractors and medical doctors is in their method of treating patients. Medical doctors use medicines and surgery. In other words, they put something in or take something out. Chiropractors work with your body to correct a physical problem such as back pain, poor posture, muscle spasms and many other symptoms.You only have to go to the chiropractor as long as it is helping you. Regular chiropractic patients frequently mention they are more in tune with their body and therefore are able to head off problems with a visit to their chiropractor before they become painful. Let your body be your guide.
Dr.Gil Kentof 615-794-0800 Franklin, Tn
www.drgpainfree.com