Headaches Forcing You To Miss Work? Try a Chiropractor.

Headaches are the most common form of nervous system disorder with 47% of the population claiming to experience at least one within the last year. They may only cause slight pain that goes away after 15-20 minutes, or they could generate debilitating throbbing-like sensations which spreads into other areas of your body. Either way, it's important to take the necessary action to not only alleviate your headaches but to prevent them from them from coming back as well.

To put the problem of headaches into perspective, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports that headaches cause more $13 billion of lost work each year. When a worker experiences a severe headache, he or she may be physically unable to perform their normal duties.

Common Causes of Headaches

Headaches are typically caused by something known as a “trigger.” These may include eating high-sodium, processed foods, alcohol consumption, excessive heat, lack of sleep, lack of exercise, stress, tension and physical problems. Identifying your headaches' trigger(s) will allow you to make the changes to prevent them in the future. Perhaps it's lack of sleep that's causing your body to experience headaches the following day. If this is the case, try to get a decent night's sleep to see what kind of effect it has on your headaches.

It's estimated that upwards of 95% of all headaches are caused by tension. Blood vessels restrict when the body is tense, preventing the proper flow of blood. This ultimately leads to migraines and other common forms of headaches. The good news is that professional chiropractors are trained to reduce physical tension and stress in the human body. A study published by the Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics revealed the potential headache treatment benefits of chiropractic adjustments. This study found that people who received 4 weeks of spinal adjustments from their chiropractor experienced significantly fewer headaches than those who simply popped a pill to treat their pain.

How Chiropractors Can Relieve Headaches

Most doctors run their business around the mentality of prescribing a pill for every patient's problem. Taking too many painkillers, whether it's a non-steroidal inflammatory (NSAID) or acetaminophen, can have a damaging effect on your body. It's estimated that as many as 458 people die each year from acetaminophen overdose. A safer, healthier treatment option for your headaches is to seek the services of a professional chiropractor.

A professional chiropractor can release some of the physical tension and stress that's causing your headaches through manual manipulations. They'll identify pressure points around the shoulders, neck, back and head, working to release built-up tension. If these areas are misaligned, or if they are experiencing an excessive amount of tension, it could be triggering your headaches.

Your chiropractor will also discuss your headache condition to try and identify other contributing factors. Individuals who sit down in front of a computer screen for eight or more hours a day are naturally at greater risk for developing headaches simply because they don't blink as often. Talk with your chiropractor to address any questions or concerns you have regarding your headaches. A series of manual adjustments, alignments and proper guidance will yield significant results in treating your headaches.