Headaches are nasty. When you have a headache it impacts everything you do. It makes everything more challenging and less enjoyable. According to the WHO headaches affect 40% of the population and impact women more than men. Chronic daily headaches impact about 39 million people in the United States.
- Are you one of those people who suffer from chronic headaches? If you experience weekly headaches I’d definitely put you in that category. What if there was a great chance you could drastically reduce or eliminate your headaches? Would that be something you would be interested in?
The Cervical Spine and Headaches
The neck is intimately involved in a large percentage of headaches. Sometimes it is clearly the cause of headaches and other times it is a significant factor in aggravating headaches.
Your head weighs between 10 and 12 pounds. It should be balanced on top of the neck. Looking from the side the opening of the ear should be directly above the center of the shoulder. Many of us carry our head in front of the shoulder. This is becoming more and more common with the amount of time we spend on our phones.
For every inch the head moves forward it effectively adds another 10-12 lbs that the muscles of the neck must hold up.
As these muscles get tight and go into spasm they can be a cause or contributor to headaches.
In the upper neck there are 3 pairs of occipital nerves that travel from the upper neck into the head. When the muscles in the upper neck tighten they can put pressure on these delicate nerves and cause headaches.
The Brainstem, Autonomic Nervous System and Headaches
At the base of the brain extending into the very top of the neck is the brainstem. This is home to the Autonomic Nervous System (ANS) consisting of the Vagus Nerve of the Parasympathetic Nervous System (PNS) and the Sympathetic Nervous System (SNS).
Misalignments of the top vertebrae of the upper neck can irritate the Vagus Nerve causing inhibition of its function. This is often a factor in headaches because of the functions of the Vagus Nerve.
The Vagus Nerve promotes:
- Muscle relaxation
- Rest and recovery
- Reduced inflammation
- Lowered heart rate and blood pressure
- Better sleep
When the Vagus Nerve is inhibited it allows an increase of the Sympathetic “fight or flight” System. This conversely results in:
- Increased muscle tension and pain
- Increased inflammation
- Poor sleep
- Poor recovery
- Increased “stress”
Overcoming Chronic Headaches
#1 Correcting alignment and Motion of the Upper Cervical Spine: As mentioned above, misalignments in the upper neck (primarily Occiput, C1, C2) are common sources of irritation to the Vagus Nerve that are a big contributor to lowered Vagus Nerve activity. In addition, the upper neck is commonly involved in balance issues, headaches, and sinus problems. The nerves that exit the upper neck travel into the head and are a common source of headaches.
#2 Restoring alignment and Motion of the Lower Neck and Upper Thoracic Spine: The lower neck and upper thoracic spine are key to reducing tension through the neck and shoulders. When the very bottom of the neck and very top of the upper back lock up it also locks the first few ribs. This encourages a dysfunctional breathing pattern that activates the Sympathetic Nervous System, contributing to increased muscle tension, pain, and headaches.
#3 Correcting alignment and Balance of the Thoracic, Lumbar, and Pelvis: The entire spine is one functional unit, making it important to balance the mid back, low back and pelvis to reduce nerve irritation. These areas tend to over activate the Sympathetic Nervous System, contributing to increased muscle tension, headaches, and inflammation.
#4 Vagus Nerve Activating Practices: With chronic headaches as well as any chronic pain condition the Vagus Nerve becomes lowered in its function. Chiropractic helps remove irritation causing elevation of the Sympathetic System and lowering of the Vagus Nerve. The Vagus Nerve still benefits from practices that help wake it up or activate it. These practices also teach you how to self-regulate your nervous system. At Life Chiropractic in Grass Valley our focus is on correcting dysfunctional breathing patterns and activating the Vagus Nerve.
If you are interested in scheduling an initial visit to Life Chiropractic in Grass Valley you can use this link: Schedule Here.
About Dr. Berkowitz
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.