The relentless throbbing can turn every task into a challenge. It’s not just about the pain–it’s about how it seeps into every part of your day, clouding your focus and dampening your mood. Left unchecked, headaches can escalate, affecting your sleep, work, and quality of life. 

Good news: simple headache relief methods can fit seamlessly into your daily routine, offering relief and a path to a more comfortable, headache-free life. 

1. Hot and Cold Treatments

Alternating between hot and cold treatments can provide headache relief. Heat packs help relax tense muscles, while cold packs help reduce inflammation. Apply a heat pack to your head for 15 minutes, then switch to an ice pack. Always remember to wrap treatments in a towel to protect your skin. 

2. Tennis Ball Therapy

Place two tennis balls in a sock and lie down, positioning them under your skull. Gently rock your head, allowing the balls to massage tense areas. This easy, cost-effective method can provide surprising relief from headache pain by reducing the tension in your neck.

3. Hydration is Key

Dehydration can trigger headaches, and boosting your water intake can help you feel your best. You can try replacing your afternoon coffee with herbal tea, which can help. This simple switch can help alleviate tension headaches and enhance the effectiveness of chiropractic treatments.

4. Herbal Remedies and Dietary Adjustments

Just a few drops of lavender or peppermint oil can soothe your senses and provide natural relief from stress-induced headaches. Incorporating omega-3-rich flaxseed into your diet can help reduce the frequency of headaches. These small changes can make a significant difference.

5. Correcting Posture Through Chiropractic Care

Improper posture is often the cause of headaches. Regular chiropractic adjustments can provide lasting relief. If you’re experiencing headaches, consider scheduling a chiropractic consultation to explore personalized treatments. We’ll work with you to create a treatment plan that addresses your symptoms.

Schedule Your Free Consultation at Eastern Oklahoma Chiropractic.

By incorporating these simple strategies into your daily routine, you can significantly improve your ability to manage and prevent headaches. You don’t have to go through this journey alone. 

At Eastern Oklahoma Chiropractic, we are committed to supporting you every step of the way. Contact our Broken Arrow office at 918-940-4630. Let’s work together towards a healthier and pain-free you!

The post Say Goodbye to Headaches Forever with These Easy Tricks! first appeared on Chiropractor Broken Arrow.

But the normal state for our bodies is not to suffer from headaches. There is a natural solution available, in chiropractic care. Studies have shown that chiropractic treatments safely address underlying causes of head pain, helping patients to avoid dependence on drugs and the side effects they bring. Our staff at Eastern Oklahoma Chiropractic is dedicated to helping our patients to get control of their health and live as pain-free as they can.

Spinal Alignment and Headaches

The nervous system is the body’s communication system. If your spine is not aligned properly, and you lose mobility, these conditions may interfere with how your nervous system performs in controlling your movements. This interference often results in pain, setting up a chain reaction of limited mobility that makes the pain even worse, whether it comes in the form of a headache or affects other parts of your body.

How Chiropractic Treatments Alleviate Headache Pain

Studies in recent years have shown that spinal adjustments by chiropractors to heal and restore the body have given patients long-term improvement in not only their physical well-being but in their mental health, too.

Researchers found that chiropractic adjustments lowered the stress levels in patients’ nervous systems, which helped their bodies to function more efficiently. This resulted not only in alleviating their pain from headaches, but it improved their moods as well.  Other types of treatments for headaches have been studied in comparison with chiropractic care, such as medications, acupuncture, and physical therapy. During a six-month period, the chiropractic care offered the most effective results in treating headaches and symptoms of depression. This reduced patients’ need for drugs.

Through gentle adjustments, our chiropractic care works to correct your body’s structural and functional systems, bringing a balance that helps to alleviate headache pain.

It’s important to remember that just because headaches are common, it doesn’t mean they’re a routine part of life that you just have to live with.

Contact our office for a Free Chiropractic Consultation

Whether you’re suffering from headaches or other pain, we are here at Eastern Oklahoma Chiropractic to help patients in Broken Arrow to live as pain-free as possible. Give us a call today at (918) 940-4630 to schedule your evaluation.

The post Taking Control of Headaches with Chiropractic Care first appeared on Chiropractor Broken Arrow.

Chiropractic spinal adjustments provide one of the most effective interventions for people suffering from migraine headaches. The limitations to current pharmacological therapies highlight the need to explore alternative or integrative care for headaches. Newly published research shows the effectiveness of chiropractic care for those suffering from migraines. Chiropractic adjustments deliver a significant effect that lowers the pain intensity of migraines, the duration of migraine pain, and the number of days migraine sufferers cope with pain.

Spinal adjustments improve function in the brain and central nervous system and help balance hormones associated with migraine headache pain. The purpose of Chiropractic involves gently adjusting misaligned or immobile vertebra with the intention to improve nervous system communication from the brain to the body. The position and movement of the spine intimately connect to the health of the central nervous system. An altered spinal segment causes interference which impacts overall health. Poor vertebral position traces back to a number of traumatic origins ranging from physical injury to the stresses of life. One outcome manifests as imbalanced stress hormones which produce migraine headaches.

Chiropractors specifically evaluate the alignment and mobility of the spine to ensure proper communication between the brain and the body. Other interventions are known to support the influence of a Chiropractic adjustment is helping migraine sufferers include spinal stabilization exercises, deep breathing techniques, soft tissue massage, stretching, nutrition, and ergonomic modifications.

Many people suffering from migraines believe that medication provides the only form of pain relief. Meanwhile, pharmaceutical medications represent some of the most dangerous drugs on the market due to their toxicity, potency, and potential for addiction and harm. The pain associated with migraines need not be exacerbated by the side effects of intended treatment. Medicinal side effects from medications intended to treat the pain often complicate the healing process and rarely ever address the source of the pain or provide long term resolution. Chiropractic provides a drug-free approach to addressing migraine suffering. Nervous system care offers a critical solution that pursues the permanent resolution of migraine headaches. The most up to date research contribute to building evidence which physical pain relief begins with ensuring optimal function exists in the nervous system. Before experiencing another episode or ingesting another drug, every migraine sufferer deserves the hope of Chiropractic.

The post Research Shows Chiropractic Relieves Migraine Pain first appeared on Chiropractor Broken Arrow.

Many factors contribute to the cause of a migraine headache. Most migraine sufferers experience headaches and associated symptoms on a consistent basis. The plight of a migraine sufferer often becomes agonizing and hopeless. Migraine pain represents one of the worst types of naturally occurring pain which people experience. The onset of a migraine likens to the sensation that the head enters a clamp which continually tightens. The pressure builds up from the base of the skull through the back of the eyes, making the most menial tasks seem impossible. Migraine sufferers face troubling decisions about their long-term health when faced with the prospect of being unable to function in the immediate moments of day to day life. The most common recommendation levied by the medical community comes in the form of powerful pharmaceutical drugs which mask the pain at the risk of long-term health issues and side effects such as tingling or numbness, nausea, drowsiness, and tightness in the chest and throat. People ingesting these drugs experience temporary relief for a few hours but likely return to a debilitating state of pain after a short reprieve. Migraine medicines operate like most medications that cover up the cause of symptoms without ever truly providing healing or addressing the source of the issue.

Migraine sufferers deserve a future filled with hope and the prospect of true healing and relief. Chiropractic spinal adjustments provide relief to millions of migraine sufferers by releasing pressure and stress from the spine and nervous system. Research from 2015 showed that people who received upper cervical manual adjustments reduced their drug consumption by 80%, lowered days of migraines per month by 97%, and experienced an amazing decrease in pain and functional disability associated with migraines by 100%. People suffering from migraines and other chronic types of headaches deserve to know about the benefits achieved through manual spinal Chiropractic care.

Nutrition, stress, hormones, and other lifestyle factors also play a role in the intensity and extent of migraines. The core of all of these factors connects to the role of the central nervous system. The brain and nervous system direct the control and function of the entire body. Chiropractors assess and address specific areas of function in the nervous system through appropriate care of the spine. Every Chiropractic adjustment helps improve communication between the brain and the body, reducing stress from the central nervous system. All migraine sufferers deserve to know about and experience the benefits achieved through Chiropractic adjustments.

Five lifestyle tips to address the cause of migraine headaches:

1) Chiropractic adjustments to correct spinal alignment and pressure in the upper neck

2) Remove dietary neurotoxins (artificial colors, sweeteners, and preservatives)

3) Increase water intake

4) Increase high-quality sleep

5) Engage in regular body movement through exercise and increased heart rate

The post Chiropractic Adjustments Improve Migraines… Migraine sufferers benefit from cutting edge research first appeared on Chiropractor Broken Arrow.

The latest research on headaches and depression reports that, “autonomic dysfunction plays a role in the pathogenesis of tension-type headaches and depressive disorders.” The research indicates why so many people suffering from headaches find relief through Chiropractic adjustments.  Also, it indicates that people coping with depression often turn to Chiropractic for long term relief and resolve which cannot be provided by drugs and prescriptions.

Chiropractic care focuses on the spine and nervous system.

Scientific evidence proves that small misalignments of spinal vertebrae coupled with altered mobility create stress in the nervous system. The nervous system stress also referred to as autonomic dysfunction, increases stress hormones in the blood and body. A sustained increase in stress hormones creates an environment for symptoms such as headaches, pain, and even depression. The most powerful medications in the world do not relieve the nervous system stress. As a result, many of the unwanted symptoms associated with headaches and depressed mood disorders are still prevalent.

Chiropractors do not pursue the resolution of a specific disorder through an adjustment.

Chiropractors assess, locate, and adjust areas of nervous system stress and misalignment. The outcome focuses on restoring normal function and tone in the brain and nervous system. This results in a powerful environment of healing and wellness. Allowing the body to function and heal at optimal levels often leads to the resolution of symptoms, ranging from headaches and pain to organ function and even depressive-type conditions.

An estimated 80%-90% percent of the population will suffer from headaches at some point.

Approximately 15% of people experience a headache at any given time. Headaches, mental health, and many other conditions benefit from spinal adjustments all over the world. Drug therapy serves as the most prescribed form of relief from headaches, but people deserve to know, understand, and experience the benefits of chiropractic care. The medical community often prescribes powerful drugs with dangerous side effects which offer no permanent solution to these conditions. Chiropractic care focuses on long-term and permanent healing.

Research from June of 2018 showed Chiropractic adjustments helped with chronic headaches of more than two years in duration.

The improvement of headaches was achieved by reducing stress in the autonomic nervous system. Headache relief also accompanied reduced feelings of sadness and decreased bouts of extremely low moods. Participants also reported a decrease in thoughts of death and suicide. Many study participants previously sought relief through physical therapy, acupuncture, traditional Chinese therapy, and even six-month regimens of various drug treatments. Results of previous interventions yielded little to no benefits. The study concluded after six months of Chiropractic care which focused on restoring function and healing. All participants reported a decreased or absent presence of headache pain and depressive-type symptoms as well as the reduction or elimination of medication use.

The benefits of removing interference from the nervous system through gentle and precise adjustments to the spine often result in a reduction or elimination of symptoms.

The body possesses powerful innate intelligence that always strives for adaptation and balance. The majority of unwelcome symptoms occur due to interference in the body. A significant form of interference in the nervous system comes from spinal bones being misaligned or not moving appropriately. This interference (called subluxation) occurs in much of the population due to stress. People routinely care for their cardiovascular system, digestive system, and immune system but overlook the need for routine nervous system care and maintenance. The irony being that the nervous system regulates the health of all other systems. Every adult and child deserve a health care plan involving nervous system care.

The post New Research on Headaches, Depression and Chiropractic first appeared on Chiropractor Broken Arrow.

Migraines consist of severe, painful headaches which can last for hours or days. The pain arrives accompanied by flashes of light, blind spots, tingling in the arms and legs, nausea, vomiting, and increased sensitivity to light and sound. Migraine headaches produce some of the worst pain that people ever endure. Millions of people suffer from migraines every day and experience an agonizing experience that extends far beyond head pain. Migraines literally shut down a person’s life and render them incapacitated. The medical community offers a migraine solution consisting of some of the most potent drugs available to human beings. The drugs never fully heal the migraines; they simply pump toxins through the body which mask the pain. A better healing solution exists.

Multiple factors contribute to the onset of a migraine. Nutrition, stress, and hormones play key roles in triggering or preventing an attack. The central nervous system engages with all three of these key elements. The brain and nervous system direct the control and function of the entire body. The connection between the brain and body explain why Chiropractic adjustments produce such amazing results for migraine sufferers. One research study determined that people who received upper cervical adjustments reduced their drug consumption by 80%! These same patients detailed a 97% reduction in the number of days spent each month suffering from migraines. The migraine solution led to complete pain relief and restored function in the majority of subjects suffering from migraine headaches.

The spine intimately connects to the central nervous system and regulates communication and hormone production. Proper movement and alignment of the spine allow for necessary and appropriate brain to body communication. Stress and trauma to the body alter spinal positioning and reduce the body’s ability to function and heal at full capacity. Spinal interference alters the brain’s ability to control blood vessels in the head, stress hormones, and other key factors which contribute to migraine onset. Chiropractic adjustments positively impact the body and contribute to optimal physiological performance. Chiropractic research and success stories impact millions of lives. Millions more simply need the benefit of learning more about how Chiropractic promotes health and well-being while freeing people like migraine sufferers from the burden of dark rooms and dangerous prescription drugs.

The post Migraine Sufferers NEED a Chiropractor – Recent Research Explains why… first appeared on Chiropractor Broken Arrow.

1) Too much time in front of your computer. Does anyone else notice that after an hour or so at your computer you start to develop what I call “turtle posture”? Your start to hunch over and slump, your head inches forward towards your computer screen and your shoulders begin to round.

Sooner or later your body begins to feel more natural in this position than it does in a good healthy posture. Chiropractic adjustments can definitely help get your spine moving again so that your body can find a better and healthier posture.

2) Too much stress and tension in your neck and shoulders. Many people carry their stress in different parts of their bodies. For me, it is my lower back. For many of my patients, it is their neck and shoulders. I notice that when they have a bad day, the first sign is the fact their shoulders are up by their ears. It starts to be an unconscious reaction to stress. The longer they keep their shoulders elevated, the more the body develops a habit of keeping the muscles very tense. Getting adjusted helps your body clear out any physical manifestations of stress you’ve been feeling so they don’t accumulate into a chronic problem.

3) Clenching your teeth at night and TMJ problems. A big cause of headaches…I have personal experience with this one myself.

Many people don’t realize that your jaw can be adjusted just like your neck. You also have muscles on the inside of your mouth that if massaged, will relax and lessen the pain and tension in your jaw. Though this is an uncomfortable procedure, the discomfort is brief and the results are great. From my own personal experience, it is my opinion that only the best and most experienced chiropractors should be adjusting jaws. It is a very easy area to irritate. I’ve gotten really good at it over the years simply because I have had so many TMJ issues of my own since a bad car accident and have had to really work hard to find out what works and what doesn’t.

While there are many causes of headaches, many can be treated with a simple chiropractic adjustment. In fact, we have a success rate with headaches of nearly 90%. I’ve seen many patients with this common condition and with a tailor-made program to reduce the stress in their spines, many have great results. Remember that while headaches are common, they are never normal and should be treated with caution and concern.  Call our office today to schedule your own appointment or to just talk to Dr. Travis Ring of Eastern Oklahoma Chiropractic to see if it could be a good fit for you.  918-940-4630.  Thank you for allowing us to be your chiropractor.

The post What is Causing My Headaches? Can a Chiropractor Help me? first appeared on Chiropractor Broken Arrow.

This has produced a huge market for medications that cover up the symptoms of headaches. Powerful drugs can numb your nervous system so the pain doesn’t register. While these approaches may be convenient, they can cause adverse effects and kidney or liver damage. Worse, they don’t correct the underlying cause of the headache.

Headaches are rarely a sign of immediately serious or life threatening health problems. Some headaches are so painful, however, that it may seem that something is very wrong inside the head. A person may present to the medical doctor seeking an explanation of the cause of the headache. Many medical doctors order expensive tests such as MRI or CT scans of the brain to try to visualize the cause of the headache. It has been reported that only one in 11,200 patients with headache have a problem that shows up on these types of tests. It is surprising, then, to note that between one-quarter to one-third of headache sufferers have had a CT or MRI scan. Most often the doctor and/or patient are searching for answers in the wrong direction.

Headache is a very common condition in patients with chiropractic problems. A cause of headaches can be from spinal bones in the neck that aren’t supporting your head properly. This can affect nerves, muscles and even the blood supply to your head. Research has shown that the most common types of headaches respond well to chiropractic care. The vast majority of even the most severe headaches are relieved when spinal subluxations (spinal joints that are out of alignment, don’t move well and also irritate the nerves) and jaw problems are corrected. The effects that these types of problems have on the nerves, often results in pain in the head.

Chiropractors locate areas of the spine that aren’t moving properly. They notice spinal curves. They look at your posture and your ability to turn and bend. The chiropractor is also trained to recognize the signs of rare problems that may require immediate medical attention.

If you’re a good chiropractic candidate, you’re care will consist of a schedule of chiropractic adjustments. These help normalize spinal function, help restore essential spinal curves, improve circulation and reduce nerve irritation. Chiropractic care and periodic checkups are useful ways of eliminating the most common cause of headaches (subluxation of neck joints).

What causes headaches?

Headaches occur for a reason. A headache is your body’s way of signaling you that something is not right. Some of the milder headaches are the result of occasional “morning after” problems brought on by excess smoking, drinking or eating. Others may be the indirect symptom of eye strain, improper diet, hunger, poor lighting, excessive noise, constipation, foul air, daily pressures or infection, to name a few. In rare cases, headaches can be attributed to organic conditions such as brain tumors or diabetes. Our examination process helps identify the most likely cause.

Doctors of Chiropractic recognize that a headache is the body’s warning alarm that pain may also be attributed to muscle tension and irritation of the nerves and blood vessels in the neck. The seven cervical vertebrae (spinal bones) can become misaligned from excessive physical and emotional stress. This misalignment can irritate the nerve roots in the neck and may even cause minor constriction in some vessels which supply blood and minor constriction in some vessels which supply blood to the brain. When this happens, a headache can strike. once, twice, and again and again. If not cared for, more serious symptoms may develop.

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.

What can the Doctor of Chiropractic do to help?

Your Doctor of Chiropractic is primarily concerned with helping correct any neuromusculoskeletal (nerves, muscles and bones of the body) source of your headache. He or she will perform a special spinal examination to determine whether the symptoms may be alleviated by chiropractic care. The examination can determine whether the headache may be caused, or aggravated by any misaligned vertebrae in the spine, a condition known as a subluxation, which may be creating undue nerve interference.

Chiropractic care may help prevent unnecessary tension and/or irritation in the neck and head. In some instances, chiropractic adjustments (specific spinal manipulations) can provide immediate relief for headache victims. A study of 87 headache victims who were treated with chiropractic adjustments over a two-year period revealed marked improvement. The common migraine had ceased altogether or was much improved in 85 percent of the females and 50 percent of the males. For those with classical migraine, the improvement rate was 78 percent in females and 75 percent in males.

Every headache victim is an individual case and may require special instructions or recommendations from their chiropractor. If your condition requires the attention of other health care specialists, your chiropractor will refer you to them.

How long will it take for my headaches to go away?

Some patients enjoy results quickly. Others notice a slow decline in their symptoms after several weeks or longer of chiropractic care. It’s impossible to predict. If you’ve had chronic headaches for many years, improvement can take time.

What if I don’t have a headache when I come in

Chiropractic isn’t an aspirin! Repeated visits, even when you’re feeling better, can help retrain and strengthen the muscles that support your spine. Just as it takes more than one or two workouts in the gym to get in shape, it takes time for your spine to heal.

What if Chiropractic doesn’t work?

Headaches may be common, but they’re not normal. Every headache has a cause. If we’re unable to find and correct the cause of your headaches, we can refer you to other specialists who may be able to help. Your health is our only goal.

What can I do to ease the pain?

People often consume over-the-counter pain pills to alleviate headaches, but you may be able to help relieve pain without medication by applying some simple common sense methods. Consider these guidelines for possible temporary relief:

• Apply an ice pack or cold compress to the affected area which may numb and help alleviate the pain.
• Apply heat to the shoulder and/or neck muscles to help relax the muscles.
• Gently massage the back of the neck periodically to help reduce stress and discomfort.
• Lie down to rest in a quiet atmosphere with 1 rolled up towel or small pillow supporting the neck without pushing the head forward.
• Immediately avoid bright lights and noise.

Too often individuals have become accustomed to self-medication which may mask potentially dangerous conditions. Indiscriminate use and/or over-reliance on pain medications in lieu of a proper examination and diagnosis is not recommended. Early examination and diagnosis are essential to proper care. Consult your Doctor of Chiropractic for an evaluation and/or referral to another health care specialist.

What can I do to help prevent headaches?

• Maintain good posture to help reduce misalignments in the bones of the neck.
• Seek to avoid situations of pressure and tension that can bring on a headache. If you can’t avoid pressure, try to learn to cope with it more effectively.
• Find time to take periods of rest to relax, close your eyes, breathe some fresh air and even take a brisk walk.
• Avoid getting overtired to the point of exhaustion.
• Exercise regularly to stimulate the circulation of blood to the head and to maintain neuromusculoskeletal flexibility.
• Avoid too little or too much sleep, which can be contributing factors to headaches.
• Don’t sleep on your stomach. Either sleep on your side with your head supported so that it is level with your spine, or on your back with a small pillow or rolled-up towel supporting your neck rather than your head. A cervical pillow is best.

• Don’t overindulge in food or drink, and don’t smoke.

If you have any questions or would like to speak with Dr. Travis Ring of Eastern Oklahoma Chiropractic about your headaches or any other health condition, please call us at 918-940-4630.  Thank you in advance for the opportunity to serve you.

The post Can Chiropractic Help Headaches? first appeared on Chiropractor Broken Arrow.