Do you suffer from chronic headaches? Do you experience headaches more than a couple of times a month? You’re not alone!

According to statistics more people complain of headaches than any other medical condition. About 45 million people complain of headaches each year. How many suffer without complaining?

OVER THE COUNTER MEDICATION

Most people with headaches resort to the typical over-the-counter pain medications such as Excedrin, Advil, Tylenol, Ibuprofen, Acetaminophen, etc. But, these seemingly benign medications are not without their risks.

• Tylenol is the leading cause of acute liver failure in the US.
• NSAIDS (non-steroidal anti-inflammatories) can cause blood clotting, heart problems, and stroke
• Aspirin can cause internal bleeding, heartburn, and ulcers
• Advil, Motrin, Ibuprofen can cause GI bleeding, liver problems

Most of these might not pose much of a risk if you take them a few times a year but if you are experiencing recurrent frequent headaches then your risk increases dramatically. 

IS A HEADACHE A PROBLEM IN THE HEAD?

What causes headaches? There are a number of potential causes but for this discussion let’s look at the vast majority of headaches. 

Headaches are either neurological or vascular. Migraines are an example of a vascular headache. But, even with vascular headaches there is a neurological component. 

Basically, you don’t feel pain without some sort of nerve irritation. 

So, if headaches are caused by some nerve irritation then the solution is to be found by looking at the tissues that when irritated cause pain that is experienced as a headache. 

WHAT CAUSES CHRONIC HEADACHES?

We’ve already established that some imbalance, distortion, interference, irritation is the source of chronic headaches. 

Now, let’s explore the most common sources of chronic headaches!

#1 Occipital Nerve Irritation: There are 3 pairs of nerves that exit the upper neck, one of each nerve on the right and the other on the left. These nerves travel into the head. One pair travels just up to the back of the head. Another pair travels to the temples, and the third pair travels all the way to the forehead. 

Pressure and irritation to these nerves from misaligned vertebrae in the upper neck are a common cause of occipital, temporal, and frontal headaches. 

#2 Suboccipital Muscle Spasm: There are very small delicate muscles that coordinate motion of the top two bones in the neck. When the upper neck loses its alignment and motion these muscles tighten up. That can put pressure on the Occipital Nerves. But, there are also small fibers of these muscles that attach to the covering of the spinal cord. Increased tension of these muscles creates traction on the delicate meninges. 

#3  Spinal Subluxations: Subluxations are misalignments of the spine that put pressure on nerves and cause spasm of spinal muscles. While the neck, especially the upper neck is the most common source of headaches, the entire spine down to the pelvis can cause headaches due to imbalances, compensations, and adaptations. 

It is not uncommon for subluxations in the upper back to create problems in the neck that manifest as headaches. 

#4  Brain Stem Pressure: Misalignments in the upper neck can put pressure on the brain stem and create imbalances in the autonomic nervous system. This typically lowers function of the Vagus Nerve causing increased neck and shoulder tension as well as increased inflammation. This can also interfere with quality sleep and create a self-perpetuating cycle resulting in chronic headaches. 

THE MEDICAL ANSWER IS NOT A SOLUTION

Sometimes pain medication is a necessity. But, it is never the solution to chronic problems. In many cases the more often you take pain medication the more often you experience headaches. They even have a name for this, “Analgesic Rebound Headaches”. 

There is no long term improvement with pain medication. You are only managing your pain. But, there is a cost to taking any drug long term. Most pain medications can cause liver, kidney, and heart problems. 

It’s not worth it if there might be a way to correct the underlying problem.

If you haven’t consulted with a chiropractor specializing in correction then you haven’t explored the most likely solution to a problem of chronic headaches. 

About Dr. Berkowitz of Life Chiropractic:

Bringing more than 3 decades of practice experience, Dr. Bill Berkowitz focuses on balancing and corrective care, applying his expertise to provide patients with predictable, repeatable and measurable results.

Dr. Bill consistently strives to enhance the well-being of his patients by addressing the root imbalances of their problems and promoting optimal balance, alignment, and function of the spine and nervous system.  

Bill’s wealth of knowledge and experience has allowed him to develop a nuanced understanding of the human body and its intricate connections. With each adjustment, he supports the body in returning to a state of balance that goes beyond mere symptom relief, focusing instead on long-term correction for his patients’ well-being. 

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