In today's fast paced, hectic society, just about everyone has suffered from some form of a headache. A tension headache is generally fairly moderate, and may be described as feeling like a tight belt around the head. These types of headaches can last for as little as 30 minutes, or they can last for several days. The difference of time determines whether the tension headache is classified as episodic or chronic.
Some 30-80% of the general adult population will suffer from occasional headaches; whereas only 3% of the adult population will suffer from chronic daily tension headaches. Females are twice as likely to get them as compared to men, with headaches in general affecting women more than men.
The causes of headaches are varied. There is no genetic predisposition (inherited trait) for tension headaches; they can strike anyone at anytime. The causes can generally be traced back to stress and tension in everyday life. Emotional anxiety and distress can also bring on this type of headache. Other contributing factors include poor posture, overexertion, fatigue and lack of rest, and also hunger.
There are also a wide variety of stress factors that can trigger a headache. Some examples are; job loss or problems, having a child, going on vacation, competing in sports, being overweight, no close friends, romance or marriage problems. The list is really endless, as humans are complex emotional creatures.
Headache symptoms are; mild to moderate pain on the top, sides, or back of the head; irritability, chronic fatigue, insomnia, inability to concentrate, mild sensitivity to light or noise, or general muscle aches.
Traditional medical treatments include pain relievers, antidepressants, muscle relaxants. Most of the pain relievers are OTC (over-the-counter), although in more severe cases the doctor will recommend prescription-strength painkillers (drugs). It should be noted that powerful pain drugs do not cure tension headaches, they simply relieve the symptoms. Changing lifestyles may go more to the root cause of headaches. Additionally, these drugs all have serious side effects, which should be taken into account.
Alternative Medicine for Tension Headaches
There are alternative therapies and treatments available. Some of these are biofeedback, acupuncture and acupressure, Reiki therapy, massage therapy, light therapy, homeopathy, and general relaxation and meditation techniques. But a highly effective treatment for tension headaches that is often overlooked is chiropractic care.
As mentioned previously, traditional medical approaches to relieving of headache pain involve the use of painkiller drugs. These drugs only relieve the symptoms of headaches. On the other hand, chiropractic treatment of headaches may get to the root cause of the problem, thus the chiropractic approach may actually be considered a cure for tension headaches, rather than treatment or care.
Our neck muscles are very susceptible to tension, and the trained chiropractor can, by neck and muscle manipulation, ' release' the trapped energy in the neck and gently realign any vertebral misalignments, which is in turn may be causing the headache. While it is true that stress is part of life, in the final analysis it may not be the stress itself causing the tension headache, but rather how the body reacts or adapts to that stress.
Chiropractic care can train and instruct the patient on how to adapt to and manage difficult situations. In fact, chiropractic spinal and neck manipulation have been demonstrated in clinical trials to alleviate headache pain just as effectively as drug painkillers, and the effects were longer lasting. Other studies have shown a 50% reduction in the severity of a tension headache after only ten minutes of spinal manipulation.
Your Doctor of Chiropractic will also recommend different lifestyle changes, as well as nutritional changes, in addition to spinal and neck manipulation. Ergonomic (work postures), specific exercises, and relaxation techniques may also be added to your repertoire of headache pain relief modalities.
Chiropractic care may be your best bet for headache relief!
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