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