The most common kind of headaches people deal with is tension headaches. It’s estimated that between 80% and 90% of people will have one of these headaches at some point.
If you struggle with headaches, you may need a chiropractor for tension headaches. This can be a great option if you want a gentler treatment.
There are a lot of available treatment options, but they aren’t suitable for everyone. You may not feel comfortable taking pain medication, and you may not be able to avoid triggers.
Keep reading to find out why a chiropractor for tension headaches is a good option.
What Causes Tension Headaches?
Before we dig into tension headaches, it is important to understand what they are. A lot of headaches fall under the term tension headaches as it is so common.
A tension headache usually creates a band-like sense of tension around the head. This is different from migraines, which cause pain on one side with other symptoms.
Some people have more sensitivity to headaches than others. It may be part of your family history or there may be some genetic factors at play.
Most of the time, people get tension headaches because of external factors. You may be working around bright lights or very loud noises.
Or you may be hunched over with your neck bent at an angle. These are all instances that could cause tension, leading to a tension headache.
The good news is that tension headaches should not usually include other symptoms. Because of this, you usually won’t experience sensitivity or nausea.
Different Types of Tension Headaches
If you want to treat headaches, it’s a good idea to understand them better. For instance, there are different kinds of tension headaches you may experience.
The majority of people experience the most common tension headaches which happen randomly. This may happen because you were squinting your eyes or woke up with a crick in your neck.
The other kind is episodic tension-type headache‘s that last for longer. These headaches can last for 30 minutes to an entire week.
They are much more severe and usually have a noticeable cause. On the other hand, there are chronic tension-type headache‘s some people struggle with daily.
You may get these headaches two or three times a week or every day. This is usually a sign of a bigger problem that you need to address.
When Do You Need to See a Chiropractor?
If you are struggling with tension headaches, you may not know what to do. A lot of people look at headaches as mild and not something that needs treatment.
But you should consider going to the chiropractor for tension headaches if they are severe. If you have a headache more than once a week, you should get it checked out.
Any more than once a week could put you in the category of having chronic headaches. You should also take them seriously if they last for longer than 30 minutes at a time.
How a Chiropractor Can Help
A lot of people are catching onto the benefits of going to a chiropractor. One of the reasons for this is addressing issues like tension headaches.
A chiropractor can help with chiropractic adjustments. This includes manual therapy and soft tissue therapy.
They can locate areas of tension that could be leading to the pain. As well as locate trigger points and work on spinal manipulation.
Any kind of misalignment or tension could lead to these headaches. A chiropractor can locate the cause of the issue and find a solution.
They also have access to tools like electrical stimulation, ultrasounds, and acupuncture. They will examine you and create a program specific to your needs.
Keep in mind that chiropractic adjustments help with a variety of issues. You may go in for tension headaches but find that they also help you with your back and shoulder pain.
This is because the areas chiropractors work on impact your entire body. Even the smallest misalignment could cause widespread pain that you didn’t even know was connected.
How Soon Can a Chiropractor Help With Headaches?
If you are going to a chiropractor for tension headaches, you probably want to see results. The reality is that this is going to be different for every case.
Some people walk away feeling an immediate difference after their appointment. This is often if they were experiencing severe tension that led to headaches.
For others, you may need to have a few appointments before you see a noticeable difference. This is often the case if you need a regular adjustments or have random headaches.
This is also something you can discuss with your chiropractor during your appointment. They will be able to give you a more realistic timeline to expect.
Life Changes to Help Tension Headaches
If you are going to a chiropractor, you probably want to see results. The reality is that you often need to make other changes in your life for headaches.
In fact, most chiropractors also specialize in education. They will educate you on lifestyle changes you need to make to help resolve your tension headaches.
Here are some examples of lifestyle changes you may need to make.
Reduce Stress
When it comes to headaches, it isn’t just about the physical side. The reality is that stress can also cause tension headaches as you are tensing up your muscles.
You may be holding yourself in a rigid way, causing shoulder and neck tension. Tension can even spread to your head and face, causing headaches to occur more frequently.
Limit Screen Time
There are a lot of things that can impact headaches and how often they occur. One reason why headaches are so common could be linked back to screens.
The majority of people own a phone or computer and look at the screen consistently. Some people even have a job where this is a requirement.
Staring at a bright screen all day is very bad for your eyes. This can impact your head and result in frequent tension headaches over the course of the day.
Not only that but looking at screens also impacts your posture for most people. Many people lean down when looking at screens or tilt their heads at an angle.
Work on Posture
Speaking of posture, how you hold your body has a huge impact on how you feel. This is something that chiropractors directly put a strong focus on for their clients.
Your posture can create tension in a multitude of areas. Consistently poor posture could even cause misalignment that results in bigger issues.
For example, you may stand with your shoulder slumped and your head leaning forward. This puts a lot of strain on your shoulders and back, leading to neck tension.
This is one of the more common causes of head pain, whether that be tension headaches or migraines.
Get Exercise
A lot of chiropractors strongly recommend exercise therapy programs. This is because exercise has a huge impact on your body and how it manages pain.
Exercise can help improve your posture and encourage flexibility. A lot of exercise therapy includes stretching to help reduce the tension that could cause tension headaches.
Find Triggers
Sometimes the cause of tension headaches is a complete mystery. But for a lot of people, there is a trigger that they need to find.
You may have a sensitivity to certain foods or noises that create a tension headache. Or you may have a sensitivity to scents that you are often exposed to.
There are dozens of possible triggers that could be causing your headaches. Your chiropractor can help you locate triggers so that you can manage or avoid them.
If it is a severe trigger, they may also be able to refer you to someone who is more capable of providing assistance.
Chiropractor for Tension Headaches: Everything You Should Know
Tension headaches are one of the most common types of headaches Americans deal with. This is why seeing a chiropractor for tension headaches can be one of the best options.
Instead of jumping right into a harsh treatment option, why not start in a more gentle way? Chiropractic adjustments are gentle and can help without something like medication.
Your chiropractor can also help you find external triggers that could cause headaches.
Are you interested in seeing a chiropractor to help with your chronic headaches? Contact us today at Healthwise Chiropractic to schedule an appointment.
