headaches and chiropractic care

Whether they present as slight nuisances or incredibly disruptive experiences, headaches are universally unwelcome during one's day. From a statistical perspective, it's anticipated that nearly half of the adult population in Wellington will encounter a headache within this year, and around 11% of them might experience migraines. The realm of headaches encompasses more than 100 distinct classifications, each characterized by unique patterns of pain, underlying causes, and available treatment methods.
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Chiropractic care has exhibited its potential in alleviating certain common headache types, offering a potential avenue for relief. To delve into this matter, an exploration of two overarching headache categories—primary and secondary—is required.

Primary headaches manifest independently, devoid of an underlying medical condition. The precise mechanisms driving these headaches remain undisclosed. Within the realm of primary headaches, there exist various types:

• Tension-type headaches: These represent the most prevalent form of headaches, inducing mild to moderate pain characterized as tension or pressure on both sides of the head. Importantly, physical activity does not exacerbate these headaches.
  
  
• Migraines: Distinguished by their moderate to severe pain, migraines typically involve pulsating sensations on one side of the head. Physical exertion tends to worsen these headaches. Additional symptoms encompass nausea, visual disruptions (known as aura), and heightened sensitivity to light and sound.
  
  
• Trigeminal autonomic cephalalgias (TACs): This cluster of headaches concentrates its impact on a specific head area. Often severe in intensity and recurrent, TACs localize around the eyes or temples. They may trigger symptoms like redness in the eyes, tearing, and nasal discomfort.
  
  
• Other primary headaches: This category comprises less frequent or less comprehended types of headaches. Among them are headaches provoked by coughing, exercise, sexual intercourse, cold temperatures, pressure, and sleep-related factors.

Secondary headaches arise as a consequence of an underlying medical or neurological condition. In these cases, the brain's capacity to perceive damage to its own neural tissue is absent. Instead, the discomfort associated with these headaches originates from the various adjacent tissues or structures in or around the head. Presented below is a compilation of secondary headache types accompanied by instances of underlying conditions:

• Conditions involving the cranium, facial features, and neck structures: These encompass sinus and ear infections, eye disorders, and issues related to neck function.
  
  
• Traumatic events: This includes instances such as whiplash, brain injuries, and fractures.
  
  
• Vascular ailments: Conditions like stroke, intracranial bleeds, and malformations fall into this category.
  
  
• Non-vascular disorders: Inflammatory diseases, tumors, abnormal spinal fluid pressure, and seizures are representative of this group.
  
  
• Exposure to substances: Instances of medication overuse and withdrawal, along with alcohol and drug consumption, can trigger these headaches.
  
  
• Infections: Meningitis, encephalitis, and brain abscesses are examples of infections that can lead to secondary headaches.
  
  
• Disruption of homeostasis: Factors like high altitudes, diving, fasting, dehydration, and even space travel can contribute to these headaches.

Studies demonstrate that manipulative therapy, which includes practices like chiropractic care, holds potential for alleviating headaches. A noteworthy and extensively referenced study conducted in 2010 revealed that spinal manipulation serves as an efficacious treatment for cervicogenic headaches and migraines among adults.
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Manipulative therapy might also exert an impact on the prevailing type of headache, namely tension-type headaches. An exhaustive review of available literature spanning from 2000 to 2013 came to the conclusion that "patients with tension-type headaches who underwent manual therapies exhibited more favorable improvements compared to those who received traditional treatment or a placebo." However, a comprehensive assessment of effectiveness remained challenging.

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