According to the American Migraine Foundation, over 30 million people experience headaches and migraines. These can be caused by excessive sunlight exposure, stress, or an injury. When the throbbing sensation in your temples persists and the pain becomes almost unbearable, you may have a migraine. Over-the-counter painkillers can alleviate headaches and migraines, but proper diagnosis and treatment provide long-lasting results. Our team at Core Chiropractic and Wellness in Pella, IA, provide a variety of non-invasive and drug-free treatments to help alleviate headaches and migraines. You can learn about the difference between these below:
Differences Between Headache and Migraines
A headache can manifest as a dull or acute pain in your forehead or temple. It can subside if you rest, sleep, or take simple painkillers. However, a migraine is a severe pounding pain that can point to a neurological disorder and affect you for days. Chiropractic treatment can help reduce headaches and migraines and help you live a pain-free life.
Headaches
Our chiropractor believes neck pain and joint misalignments can result in nerve stress, which can cause headaches. Chiropractic treatment techniques can help correct physical irregularities in the body, ultimately clearing your headaches. Common types of headaches that our chiropractor helps treat include:
Sinus Headaches
A sinus headache occurs when your nose is congested, resulting in sinus passage swelling. This headache can manifest as pain in the eyes, nose, cheeks, and worsens if you stand or bend forward.
Tension Headaches
Tension headaches are triggered by eye strain or hunger. They can be mild or acute and cause pain that starts from the back of the head and radiates forward. Some patients also feel tension headaches on the side of the head.
Cluster headaches
When you have headaches daily around the same time, you may be experiencing cluster headaches. These occur when the blood vessels dilate as the body releases histamines and serotonin. Altitude changes and bright lights can also trigger cluster headaches.
Migraines
Migraines can range in severity and length. They are often caused by a neurological issue that results in numbness and pain. Patients may experience temporary memory loss, visual disturbances, nausea, difficulty speaking, and irritability. Our chiropractor seeks to alleviate migraines by focusing on the root cause. Common causes of migraines include:
Environmental Factors
Diet changes, shifts in weather patterns, lack of sleep, and mental stress are external environmental factors that contribute to migraines.
Hormonal Changes
Women have migraines more than men due to the hormonal changes they experience during menstruation or pregnancy.
Genetics
You may be genetically predisposed if you have a family history of migraines. Certain genetic mutations can also be a factor for migraines.
Allergies
In some people, allergies can cause the blood vessels to become inflamed and irritated, which results in migraines.
Contact us for Treatment Today
If you have head pain or neck pain that makes you feel dizzy, nauseated, or sensitive to bright light, strong smells, and loud sounds, you may be experiencing a migraine or severe headache. Chiropractic care provides a wide range of treatments and lifestyle change recommendations to help alleviate the pain and address the core health complications behind your migraines. Contact Core Chiropractic in Wellness in Pella, IA, today at (641) 204-0029 to schedule an appointment.