CHIROPRACTORS ROLE IN TREATING HEADACHES

HEADACHES IN AUSTRALIA
Headache is one of the most common medical complaints. According to a 1995 Australian Bureau of
Statistics survey, 2.2 million people reported headaches dawning in recent times while 22,000 reported
headaches occurring with unspecified causes over the longer term with the higher prevalence among
people in the age bracket 25-44 years. Moreover, almost 15% of the Australian population was taking
medication for headache.

One particular result worth mentioning in a study published by Journal of Clinical Neuroscience in 1998
is the fact that although headache and migraine are common disorders in Australia, migraineurs may not
regularly seek professional advice regarding treatment and if they do, they will seek advice from general
practitioners (23%), pharmacists (11%), dentists (7%), chiropractors (4%), medical specialists,
physiotherapists, eye practitioners, and masseurs (each 2%).

HEADACHE BASICS
The head is one of the most common areas of pain in the body. Although there are 150 diagnostic
categories, headache is classified into three major categories based upon the source of pain - primary;
secondary, and; cranial neuralgias, facial pain, and other headaches. Headache is actually a broad term
that encompasses pains occurring in any region in the head, both sides of the head, or isolated to a
certain location in the head. Normally, people who suffer from headache describing the discomfort as
sharp, pulsating, throbbing, appearing gradually or suddenly in some areas in the head, and may last
from less than an hour to a couple of days.

PRIMARY HEADACHES
The most common type of headache, which are also the most common type of headaches among adults
and adolescents are the tension headaches, also called chronic daily headaches or chronic non-
progressive headaches. Tension headaches also occur more commonly in women than men. Migraine,
the second most common form of primary headache and ranked as the seventh-highest specific cause of
disability worldwide, falls to this category and generally affects children as well as adults with more
women than men are affected after puberty. While primary headaches are not life-threatening, they
can be associated with underlying symptoms of a more serious illness.

SECONDARY HEADACHES
This category includes a broad classification of medical conditions ranging from dental pain from
infected teeth or an infected sinus, to life-threatening conditions like bleeding in the brain or infections
like encephalitis or meningitis. Headaches associated with substance abuse and excess use of
medications used to treat headaches are all part of this category. Brain freeze (ice cream headaches),
stroke, dehydration, influenza, and concussion are also typical examples.

CRANIAL NEURALGIAS, FACIAL PAIN, & OTHER HEADACHES
Cranial neuralgia describes inflammation of one of the 12 nerves that supply the motor and sensation
function of the head and neck. Trigeminal neuralgia is the most commonly recognized example in the
category. The inflammation of the trigeminal nerve causes intense facial pain that can contort a face
causing the head to move away from the pain.


HEADACHE AND CHIROPRACTIC CARE
Since most headaches are caused by non life threatening origins, they can be relieved through
appropriate treatment. Headaches are rarely a sign of a serious health problem and figures show that
only one in 11,200 patients with headache have a problem that shows up on MRI or CT scans. Thus, it is
always important to have the problem thoroughly investigated by a specialist especially if the headache
worsens with another symptom, or fails to improve with medication.

Generally, headache is a common condition among patients with chiropractic problem brought about by
problems in ones spinal bones in the neck that aren't supporting the head properly. This condition can
affect nerves, muscles and even the blood supply to your head. Mechanical dysfunction (e.g. falls,
accidents, poor posture, and repetitive stress) on the vertebrae of the neck increases muscle tension, as
well as irritate the nerves.

Chiropractors are well-trained to recognize signs of rare problems in order to properly managed
headache patients. Chiropractic care will help eliminate the common cause of headaches by
adjustments (restoring spinal curves, normalising spinal function), soft tissue therapy (trigger point
stimulation, myofascial release), Posture correction exercises, as well as co-management with other
health care providers.

Originally posted on http://eastern.net.au/chiropractors-role-treating-headaches/