Headache
Headaches are very common in society today. People blame them on everything from stress and weather to their job, their spouses and children.
In reality, there are a number of types and causes of headaches:
- Tension Headaches are most likely caused by tightening and spasms of muscles that line the skull and result in pain often below the occiput, in the back of the head and into the shoulders. There is no known cause of these headaches, but are usually related to stress, which has a tendency to tighten muscles.
- Migraine Headaches are the second most common headache. They occur when the blood vessels in the head dilate, which result in a pounding feeling as the heart beats, sending blood through the vessels. This is accompanied by a release of chemicals from the nerves surrounding those engorged blood vessels, which irritate and cause more inflammation and pain. The sympathetic portion of the nervous system often becomes triggered which slows down digestion in order to send blood to parts of the body that require it due to stress. This is part of the flight or fight mechanism. This slowing of digestion often causes nausea and vomiting. Medications often do not help migraines because the stomach does not empty into the small intestines where the medications are absorbed. Even when they help, the problem with medications is that they mask the symptoms rather than cure the problem. Dr. Schwartz evaluates the migraine patient to see if the nervous system is malfunctioning and causing the swelling of the blood vessels. This often is the cause of migraines.
- Vertebrogenic Headaches are headaches that are directly related to the spine. Vertebrae in the neck can move out of place and become fixated in their misaligned positions causing inflammation and irritation to the spinal nerves which exit the neck and supply structures in the head. Chiropractors specialize in repositioning these vertebral subluxations, thereby removing pressure from the nerves and relieve the painful headaches.
- Meningitis and Encephalitis can cause headaches by irritating the covering of the spinal cord and brain, called the meninges. These are serious diseases and require medical intervention.
- Spinal Cord and Brain Tumors can also cause headaches. Tumors can be benign or malignant. Either type can cause headaches and require immediate medical intervention.
Treatment does depend on the type of headache. Dr. Jay H. Schwartz gets amazing results with headaches by utilizing a variety of chiropractic techniques to remove the irritation of the nerves.
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