Have a bad headache? Before you use sinus medication, be sure which type of headache is really causing the issues. Did you know that tension type headaches are the #1 type of headaches, affecting upwards of 75% of all headache sufferers, but unfortunately are often misdiagnosed as sinus headaches?
With allergy season in full bloom, it easy to jump to the conclusion that an everyday headache is caused by sinus inflammation. When a sinus (the air-filled cavities located in your forehead, cheekbones, and behind the bridge of your nose) becomes inflamed, swelling is formed and the increased pressure in the sinuses causes a pain similar to that of a headache. However, this is mostly not the cause of the pain being experienced in the cranium. While symptoms are similar to a tension or stress headache, the pain is usually accompanied by other sinus symptoms, such as nasal drainage, the ears feeling full, fever, and facial swelling.
Tension headaches (or stress headaches) on the other hand are mostly described as a feeling of a tight band or dull ache around the head or behind the eyes and can last from 30 minutes to several days. The most common cause of tension headaches is subluxations (incomplete or partial dislocation of a joint) in the upper back and neck which is adequately treated with chiropractic adjustments at Family Chiropractic & Wellness in Columbus, IN. Although the pain can at times be severe, tension headaches are usually not associated with other symptoms, such as nausea, throbbing or vomiting and such symptoms should be immediately evaluated by a medical physician.
Tension headaches are often the result of stress or poor posture. Incorrect posture stresses the spine and muscles in the upper back and neck and people who hold desk jobs will tend to suffer from increased headaches for this reason. The good news is that chiropractic care at Family Chiropractic & Wellness can help tremendously by regaining movement in the upper back and neck joints and thus releasing pressure on the muscles causing the headache pain. Spinal manipulative therapy is very effective for treating tension headaches and a report by researchers at the Duke University Evidence-Based Practice Center in Durham, NC, found that “spinal manipulation resulted in almost immediate improvement for headaches that originate in the neck, and had significantly fewer side effects and longer-lasting relief of tension-type headache than commonly prescribed medications.” Each individual’s case is different and requires a careful and complete evaluation before an appropriate course of chiropractic care can be assigned; however, in most cases of tension headaches, significant improvement is achieved through manipulation.
Experiencing chronic headaches? You could be apart of the majority of headache suffers that are experiencing pain as a result of subluxations. Call Family Chiropractic & Wellness today for an evaluation and custom plan to elevate your pain at 812-373-3376.
