Over 90% of headaches are cervicogenic in nature (originate in the neck muscles) and are primary headaches and are not caused by a condition or disease (such as a migraine or a brain tumor). The headache itself is the primary concern.
Nine out of ten Americans suffer from these types of headaches and the symptoms can cause debilitating pain, dizziness, and nausea. Most originate with muscle tension in the upper neck and are associated with our modern lifestyle. Our activities are much more sedentary and we stay fixed in one position or posture for many hours. This can increase joint irritation and muscle tension in the neck, upper back, and scalp, causing pain at the back of your head to radiate commonly to the eyes and temporal region.
Research shows that primary headaches, which are commonly caused by subluxations in the upper back and neck, are effectively treated with chiropractic.
What Else Can You Do?
The ACA suggests the following:
- If you spend a large amount of time in one fixed position, such as in front of a computer, on a sewing machine, typing or reading, take a break and stretch every 30 minutes to one hour. The stretches should take your head and neck through a comfortable range of motion.
- Low-impact exercise may help relieve the pain associated with primary headaches. However, if you are prone to dull, throbbing headaches, avoid heavy exercise. Engage in such activities as walking and low-impact aerobics.
- Avoid teeth clenching. The upper teeth should never touch the lowers, except when swallowing. This results in stress at the temporomandibular joints (TMJ) — the two joints that connect your jaw to your skull — leading to TMJ irritation and a form of tension headaches.
- Drink at least eight 8-ounce glasses of water a day to help avoid dehydration, which can lead to headaches.
Remember too, that headaches have many causes, or “triggers”. These may include foods, environmental stimuli (noises, lights, stress, etc.) and/or behaviors (insomnia, excessive exercise, blood sugar changes, etc.). Only about 5 percent of all headaches are warning signals caused by physical problems.