Is it a migraine or a headache?
Clients commonly mention to me that they suffer from migraines. In reality, however, many of these ‘migraines’ are actually unilateral (one-sided) headaches or even cervicogenic headaches – headaches that are caused from the neck.
So, what are migraines and how do you know if you having one? How can chiropractic help in reducing them?
Headaches, in general, are classified into 3 different classifications according to the International Headache Society (IHS):
- Primary Headaches
- Secondary Headaches
- Neuropathies & Facial Pains
Let’s focus on primary headaches which are headaches due to the headache itself being the cause of pain – they include:
- Migraines
- Tension-type headaches
- Trigeminal autonomic cephalgias
- Other primary headache disorders
Am I having a Migraine? Triggers & symptoms:
Migraine-sufferers have certain triggers which may include stress, fatigue, food or drink related, bright flashing lights, loud or sudden noises, certain medications, changes in temperature and environment just to name a few.
There are also many common migraine symptoms which can help you self-diagnose if you are suffering from a common migraine.
Can Chiropractic help?
Yes! – A study done in 2000 showed that chiropractic manipulations are effective in helping patients with migraines. There are also other studies showing that chiropractic can help with cervicogenic headaches and other neck and upper back pain.
At Healthworks we have a simple two-step process – the first step we take is to correctly diagnose your headache, the second is to proceed with the appropriate treatment.
If you have headaches or suffer from migraines, neck pain or upper back pain, please make an appointment or just drop by and let us help to get you back on your feet!