Headache

Dr. Nichol Tang, D.C.  

Many people tend to ignore headaches, attributing them to work or stress. However, even without these factors, recurring headaches can still occur, often due to overlooked poor posture. According to the Hong Kong Medical Journal, about 1 in 10 adults in Hong Kong experience chronic daily headaches and migraines, with women being more susceptible than men.

Headaches can be categorized into two types: primary and secondary. Primary headaches make up the majority of cases, while secondary headaches are symptoms of other issues. Diagnosing primary headaches can be challenging for clinicians, let alone the general public.

Causes of Primary Headaches

Headaches can present in various forms, so it's important to have a medical professional diagnose them for you. Here are a few types that often appear in our chiropractic clinic.

Tension-type headache

This type of headache is often caused by stress and tension in the neck muscles. It commonly intensifies during workdays after prolonged sitting in front of a computer. The pain usually ranges from mild to moderate and feels like a band around the head. Better stress management and restoring balance in the affected muscles can manage this headache.

Cervicogenic headache

Misalignment of the spine in the neck can irritate joints or discs, potentially leading to cervicogenic headaches. Note that neck pain isn't always present with these headaches, but specific neck movements may trigger them. Misalignment is often due to daily poor postures. It's crucial to review and correct these with your Chiropractor.

Migraine

A migraine typically presents as an intense, throbbing, pulsating headache on one side of the head. It can be triggered by various factors, including alcohol, caffeine, hormonal changes, stress, and sensory stimulation, such as bright light or strong smells. Managing migraines often involves reducing these triggers and using medications. However, there is increasing data supporting the inclusion of chiropractic care in migraine management.

Other Headaches

There are also other less common headaches, such as exertional headaches, cough headaches, thunderclap headaches, and trigeminal neuralgia.

Acute headache requiring immediate medical attention:

While the likelihood of a headache indicating a serious problem, such as a brain tumor or stroke, is minimal (less than 1 in 1000), it's crucial to identify alarming symptoms that necessitate immediate medical attention. Here are a few:

• Sudden onset of severe headache you have never experienced

• Headache accompanied by neck stiffness, fever, weakness, or trouble speaking, which suggests meningitis

• Headache that gets progressively worse after a head injury

Reducing Chronic Headache Yourself

• Hydrate and sleep enough

• Exercise regularly

• Maintain a balanced diet

• Reduce screen time or take regular breaks

• Massage or put heat at the neck area

These tips may help you with soothing the headache. If it persists, it is best to seek help from medical professionals.

The Spinalysis Procedure on Headache

There is evidence to support that chiropractic care can aid individuals suffering from migraines and headaches originating from the musculoskeletal system. At Spinalysis, our chiropractor will determine the cause of your headache. If it stems from your musculoskeletal system (i.e., Tension type, Cervicogenic Headache, and Migraine), it's likely related to your daily lifestyle, which may lead to vertebral or structural misalignment in the neck. Restoring the curvature of the neck and managing these misalignments may help alleviate symptoms.

Assessment and Examinations

Spinalysis offers a range of assessments and examinations to identify the structures related to your concern, followed by questions regarding your daily lifestyle habits that may contribute to your headache:

• Clinical Spinal and Neurological Assessment

• Orthopaedic Tests

• Vertebral Motion Analysis

• 3D AI Static Postural Assessment

• Radiographic Vertebral & Global Misalignment Analysis

• Lifestyle Habit Questionnaires

Chiropractic Care and Services

Your tailor-made treatment plan will be made based on the results of your assessment and examinations. This may include:

• Manual Chiropractic Adjustments

• Spinal Traction Protocol

• Spinal Distraction Device

• Specific Spinal Curvature Exercise

• Home kit for Spinal Training

• Consultation on Lifestyle habit modification

• Physical Modalities

• Nutritional and Supplemental Coaching

  
  

Seeking help? Contact Us Now

We understand that constant reoccurring headaches might be debilitating and disabling, and the Spinalysis team is here to help. Contact us now as your first step towards a suffer-free experience.

Disclaimer:

This blog post is not intended to replace professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.

Neck Pain

Dr. Nichol Tang, D.C.

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