Can Headaches Be Serious?
A headache is no stranger to most people. One estimate is that headaches occur in 9 out of 10 people. Some are mild but annoying, localized pain that may be attributed to one or more of a variety of causes. Chronic, recurring headaches, which can be the most serious, are of two major types; migraine and tension. These may be frequent and intense, and may involve the severe throbbing, nausea, irritability and sensitivity to bright light common to the migraine or “sick” headache. These headaches can be debilitating. They can affect the vision and bodily functions, bring on pain and sensation elsewhere in the body and even change moods and personality. To find relief, if only temporary, the American public pours out millions of dollars a year for headache remedies.
Is There Research Concerning Chiropractic and Headaches?
Current scientific studies are very favorable for holistic, non-pharmaceutical management of headaches.
In a 2001 study at Duke University, McCrory, et al, found that chiropractic adjustments often provided immediate improvement in headache severity when compared to placebo. Furthermore, when subjects continued with follow-up chiropractic care they experienced “sustained improvement in both frequency and intensity of headache”. This study concluded that chiropractic care was a safe and effective way of providing long term relief of headaches without the use of medications
In a study conducted by Wright, et al, 87 patients with classic or common migraine were cared for with “chiropractic spinal adjustments” to treat spinal dysfunction in the cervical spine (neck). In a two year follow-up after discharge from chiropractic care, each former migraine patient was sent a in-depth headache questionnaire to which 85% responded. Wright stated that of the 87 patients, 33.33% reported no further headaches, and over 70% of migraine suffers reported getting long term relief without depending on medications.
Whether you are talking about headaches or digestive problems, sinus infections or asthma, back pain or chronic fatigue, gallbladder problems or menstrual cramps… it’s all the same… chiropractic gets equally good results with all of these conditions. Why is that? Because it is not the condition that has the person we are treating. It is the person that has the condition we are caring for, and we are doing this through the nervous system.