While there are many potential causes for these conditions, one commonly overlooked factor is the health of your spine. Let’s discuss how spinal issues could lead to persistent headaches or migraines and effective solutions.

The Connection Between Your Spine and Headaches

The cervical spine, or neck area, is a critical region influencing overall neurological health.

Misalignments, or subluxations in the cervical spine, can compress or irritate nerves that travel from the spine to the brain, disrupting nerve function and leading to headaches.

Types of Headaches Associated with Spinal Problems

1. Tension Headaches: These are often caused by stress and strain on the neck and upper back muscles, which can stem from poor posture or spinal misalignments. Symptoms typically include a dull, aching pain around the head.

2. Cervicogenic Headaches: Originating from disorders within the cervical spine, these headaches usually begin with pain in the neck that then spread to the head.

3. Migraines: Spinal issues might not directly cause migraines, but they can aggravate their symptoms, making them more frequent and severe due to increased muscle tension and nerve irritation.

Identifying Spinal-Related Headaches

A thorough examination by a chiropractor or a specialist in musculoskeletal health can often pinpoint whether spinal issues are causing your headaches.

This might include imaging tests like X-rays or MRI scans and a detailed physical assessment of your spine’s alignment and mobility.

Chiropractic Solutions for Relief

Chiropractors use spinal manipulation and adjustments to realign the spinal column.

This helps to relieve pressure on nerves and muscles in the neck and head, reducing the frequency and intensity of headaches caused by nerve irritation and muscle tension. In addition to spinal manipulation, chiropractic care often includes advice on posture, ergonomics, and pain relief exercises.

These measures promote proper spinal alignment, prevent further issues, and promote overall well-being.

Making Lifestyle Changes

Enhancing your lifestyle with better hydration, stress management techniques, and an ergonomic work environment can also help prevent headaches.

Persistent headaches and migraines should not dictate the quality of your life. If you’re struggling with pain and suspect it may be linked to spinal issues, it’s time to consider chiropractic care.

At Eastern Oklahoma Chiropractic, we are dedicated to diagnosing and resolving the root causes of your symptoms.

Contact us today to schedule your complimentary consultation. With our expert care, you can achieve lasting relief and a healthier, more comfortable life.

The post Understanding Persistent Headaches and Migraines: Could Your Spine Be the Culprit? first appeared on Chiropractor Broken Arrow.

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.

A chiropractor’s treatments are a proven, effective way to mitigate damage caused by stress by improving your spinal structure and keeping your nervous system strong. Now more than ever, our mission at Eastern Oklahoma Chiropractic is to provide care that boosts your overall health as you cope with today’s increased load of stress.

COVID-19 and Stress

Every day, we face unpredictability. The mental and physical health of millions of people has become a major concern. The rollercoaster climbs with good news and then descends with worrisome information. Updates on new vaccines and treatments bolster our mood. Other news about the virus and economic issues ramps up our anxiety. This tension may send health downhill, but the good news is that you can be proactive in heading off harmful stress. 

How Stress Leads to Illness and Injury

Stress is a natural part of life, one that our bodies are able to handle in reasonably small doses. But chronic stress from ongoing crisis situations places a big burden on our health. 

When you experience anxiety, your body generates a physical reaction known as the “fight or flight” response. Blood pressure and heart rate go up, breathing becomes faster, and muscles tighten up. With long-term stress, you’re more susceptible to heart disease, autoimmune disorders, depression, and many other conditions. Stress often goes to your upper back, producing hunched shoulders and muscle tightness in the neck, jaw, back, and shoulders, creating imbalances that worsen problems throughout your entire body.

An unhealthy cycle begins: stress causes pain, and the pain, in turn, brings on more stress. Spinal misalignments may occur, impairing the nervous system’s vital communication channels between the brain and body. These misalignments can increase pain, make minor injuries more serious, lower your immunity, and aggravate arthritis conditions.

Chiropractic Adjustments and Other Natural Remedies to Manage Stress

So, how do you protect your body from chronic stress damage? 

Fortunately, there are therapies and techniques to help. 

Relaxation practices such as deep breathing, meditation, and progressive muscle relaxation reduce negative symptoms of anxiety.

Exercise and movement techniques like tai chi or yoga release endorphins that calm anxiety. 

Chiropractic treatments align the spine and nervous system to regulate your body’s responses to anxiety and improve immune function. Your autonomic nervous system manages the fight or flight response to anxiety triggers. Science has found that controlling pain positively affects how the nervous system functions. Additionally, a patient study showed that spinal manipulation improved hormone levels, reducing pain and increasing well-being. 

Your chiropractor’s adjustments eliminate interference in the nervous system and empower the body’s natural healing ability.  

Set Up a Free Consultation at our Broken Arrow Office

To begin your plan to prevent and heal the harmful effects of stress, call Eastern Oklahoma Chiropractic at 918-940-4630.

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Recent health-related news examined the idea that the medical community does not currently offer migraine headache sufferers the attention and care they deserve. Critics believe that migraine care receives little attention because the disease simply defeats the current medical community. The complex cause of migraine headaches evades medical research. Treatments tend to involve pain relief rather than healing an underlying cause. Chiropractic care offers a proven approach that produces a more beneficial long-term outcome than medical care.

How common are migraines?

Migraines comprise the third most prevalent illness in the world, affecting 12% of the US population. Nearly 40 million Americans and a billion people worldwide suffer from migraines. Those numbers equate to one in every seven people living with regular migraines. Migraines also rank as the second most-debilitating disease on the planet after back pain. More than 20% of chronic migraine sufferers classify as disabled and the likelihood of becoming disabled increases as more associated conditions grow.

Migraines most commonly occur between the ages of 18-44 years and affect men, women, and children. Only 6% of men experience migraines compared to 18% percent of women, amounting to about 28 million women in the United States. Approximately 10% of children suffer from migraines.

What are the symptoms of a migraine?

A migraine classifies as recurrent, throbbing headaches which include moderate to severe pain that can last up to three days. Migraine sufferers also report symptoms that include photophobia (light sensitivity), phonophobia (anxiety disorder/fear of loud sounds), and nausea.  Most migraine sufferers experience the condition as a chronic disease that significantly decreases their quality of life. Migraines date back for thousands of years. Historical treatments over centuries include wrapping the patient’s head with ground-up earthworms to bloodletting. Contemporary treatment usually involves the consumption of powerful and dangerous pharmaceutical drugs. Overuse of medication represents the most common reason episodic migraines turn chronic.

Can chiropractic help?

Research published in 2015 focused on a superior solution. Spinal adjustments provided better long-term health compared to the use of migraine medications. The medical community tends to quickly prescribe the latest drugs to migraine sufferers without researching and exploring recently published findings that detail other safer and more effective solutions. The 2015 research showed that patients who received upper cervical manual care reduced their drug consumption by 80%, days of migraines per month by 97%, and pain and functional disability associated with migraines by 100%.

Migraine headache sufferers experience some of the worst pain imaginable. The pain and agony experienced by migraine sufferers extend far beyond a mild stress headache. Migraines literally shut a person to the point where numbing consciousness with harsh pharmaceuticals seems the only escape. Some of the most potent drugs on the market advertise themselves as solutions to migraine headaches. A solution seems to imply healing, but no healing comes from taking pills. Chiropractors offer a different approach focused on addressing underlying causes and the link between the spine and central nervous system function. Migraine sufferers deserve to understand and experience a healing solution focused on a future free from pain and suffering. The benefits start with Chiropractic.

The post Research Reveals that Adjustments Minimize Migraine Pain first appeared on Chiropractor Broken Arrow.

Chiropractors devote time, study, and expertise to naturally relieving and restoring the body from conditions of pain and discomfort attributed to several maladies, including repetitive flexion from the overuse of electronic devices. Chiropractors also understand the significance of abnormal spine and posture on the nervous system and hormones. The study proved that abnormal posture leads to lowered testosterone, lowered serotonin, increased cortisol, and reduced feelings of power. Good posture associates with better balance within the nervous system and hormones. Chiropractors improve posture with every adjustment administered to the neck and spine.

The presence and demand for technology to infuse in nearly every aspect of life coincides with an even greater need for regular Chiropractic care for every member of the family. Proper alignment and movement of the spine directly influence the health of the brain and central nervous system. Chiropractors help offset the negative influence of poor posture due to cell phone and computer use. Proper care for the spine and neck proves essential to overall health.

Three key action steps to minimizing the risk of spine and neck abnormalities from technology use include:

1) A Chiropractic Adjustment Plan adjustments reduce wear and tear in the joints and discs, lower tension in muscles, and improve the function of the nervous system

2) Good Posture Habits – utilize tools that support spinal curves and posture when sitting

3) Head Positioning – keep devices elevated when texting or viewing to keep the head in a neutral position

The post Texting Posture Amounts to Carrying Bowling Balls on the Neck! 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.

Are we really growing horns??

The research evaluated x-ray findings of 1200 subjects ranging from ages 18 to 86 years old. Evaluators call the small bump on the back of the skull an External Occipital Protuberance (EOP). A ligament and muscle attach to the EOP. Researchers found that an extra small bony growth was found at higher incidence in younger adults who had greater degrees of forward head posture. The small horn-like growth appeared to be caused by increased amounts of stress on the muscles, tendons, and ligaments in that area due to forward head posture. As stress loads increase in ligaments, muscles, and tendons for long periods of time, bony deposits form within the body as a protection mechanism.

An increasingly sedentary lifestyle accompanies massive amounts of time spent looking forward and down at devices. An adaptive process takes place within the body to alleviate the added weight and pressure being placed on the back of the head and neck. An incredible amount of strain prompts bone to infiltrate the tendon as muscles at the back of the skull work to prevent the head from falling down to the chest.

The effects of forward head posture

Weight added to the spine dramatically increases when forward head flexion increases at varying intervals. A 0° interval produces a measurable head weight on the neck of 10 to 12 pounds. A 15° interval of forward head posture increases weight on the neck by 27 pounds. A 30° interval increases weight on the neck by 40 pounds. A 45° interval increases the weight on the neck by 49 pounds. A 60° interval increases the weight on the neck by 60 pounds.

The extra stress from forward head posture on the neck and skull produce significant effects. Commentary focuses on the shocking presence of the bone spur but the protrusion registers as the smallest of concerns. The process involved in the bone spur formation indicates a danger and concern far greater than anything superficial. Improper head and neck configuration signify abnormalities in the nervous system and dangerous long-term outcomes for a person’s overall health, function, and performance.

These bone spur formations take a long time to develop. Individuals who suffer from EOP spurs began applying stress and strain to the head and neck area during the early stages of childhood. The length of time needed to form a bone spur suggests that sustained improvement in posture and head positioning prevent accompanying effects and allows for correction and healing. Chiropractic care plays a vital role in helping reduce stress and abnormal spinal positioning which promote disease, discomfort, and long-term health concerns. Research continues to alert people to the dangers of overusing technological devices as they pertain to deteriorating effects on the head, neck, and spine. Chiropractic helps relieve the damaging effects of forward head posture while providing education and care plans for the sustained health and function of the neck, spine, and nervous system.
Report

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The head and neck design allow for flexion and regular forward leaning. The challenge and consequences begin to occur when they maintain flexed or forward head posture positions for long, consistent periods of time. Cell phones, computers, desk jobs, and more sedentary living contribute to the growing number of people suffering from forward head posture.  Chronic abuse leads to  syndromes and other detrimental health consequences.

Our activities have changed

The average person spends 2 to 4 hours a day with their head tilted forward for reading and texting on their smart phones. This amounts to 700-1400 hours of excess, abnormal cervical spine stress per year. 86% of American workers sit all day at their job in addition to time spent sitting on the couch after work watching television, reading, playing games or surfing the internet. Sedentary seating adds up to approximately 13 hours per day for the average person.

Sitting is the new smoking

Sitting for long periods of time takes a toll on the body. Head posture in comparison to the neck and shoulders influences so many other aspects of health and performance. Forward head flexion for long periods of time negatively impacts whole body function. A study published in 2017 showed that forward head posture caused changes in the lungs, respiratory function, and neck muscles due to the strain placed on delicate structures in the head and neck. Significant correlations were found between forward head posture, lung volume, forced expiration, and neck muscle balance. As forward head deviation got worse, the lung and neck muscle findings and measurements also got worse. Authors concluded that forward head posture lowered respiratory functions and concluded with the need for maintenance of correct head posture to prevent restrictions and long-term health degeneration.

Improvement is possible!!

Chiropractic care represents one of the most utilized healthcare interventions to help patients improve their posture, head position, and spinal health. Three proactive tips to improve posture, reduce the risk of forward head flexion, and improve overall health and well-being include:

1. Pursue regular Chiropractic care.

2. Utilize proper sitting ergonomics to ensure technology and office tasks be done with the head and neck at eye level.

3. Take regular breaks every hour to keep the spine and body moving.

Chiropractors take pride in educating their patients on the dangers of prolonged sitting and forward head syndrome while providing unique care which minimizes the risk of poor spinal and postural health. The best health care plan involves a proactive approach to prevent disease and damage which hinders the body’s function and performance. Choose Chiropractic.

The post Poor Spine and Posture Health Linked to Breathing Deficiencies and Neck Muscle Imbalances first appeared on Chiropractor Broken Arrow.

Research shows that a loss of neck curvature increases the likelihood of a disc herniation. A study also showed that appropriate correction and restoration to the neck curve produced lower rates and degrees of disc problems. Chiropractic care offers the least invasive and most effective way to increase neck mobility, alignment, and restoration of good neck curvature.

Forward head posture represents one of the most significant reasons for a decrease in proper neck curvature

Sitting, texting, repetitive computer work, sedentary lifestyles, motor vehicle accidents, and other physical traumas serve as the primary culprits of forward head posture. Each of these conditions reduce neck curve, leaving the spine weaker and more vulnerable to stress. The trauma also increases pressure on the pads (discs) between each vertebra.

Discs operate similar to shocks on a car

They absorb the pressure of daily wear and tear. Discs are made of cartilage, water, and a gel-like substance in the center for added protection. As alignment of the spine becomes altered, the gel-like nucleus in the middle of the disc becomes slightly displaced. This forces pressure on the side of the disc and stresses the cartilage. Consistent adversity produces tears in the cartilage and forces the gel-like substance to slightly protrude or bulge through the side of the disc resulting in a disc herniation. Herniations come in a variety of sizes. Smaller herniations tend to be referred to as more of a bulge than a herniation. Yet every herniation leaves the spine weakened and extremely vulnerable to stress and pressure.

Reduced neck curve equals increased disc herniations

New research shows that altered spinal alignment, particularly reduced neck curvature, decreases disc height and increases rates of disc herniations. The generative process often occurs with no pain. Chiropractors and other spine specialists use expert testing and technology to check for disc space abnormalities or other problems before pain arrives. A proactive approach proves vital to long term functionality. Spinal alignment plays a vital role in the health, durability, and longevity of the spine. Chiropractors promote the importance of spinal correction and restoration without drugs or surgery.

Chiropractic to the rescue!!

Chiropractors comprise the only natural health providers who focus specifically on detecting and correcting spinal movement, alignment, and nervous system function. Regular chiropractic care helps improve spinal alignment and ensures better curvature, resulting in greater strength, durability, increased disc space, and less risk of disc bulges and herniations. The long-term benefit cannot be measured. Every person deserves a healthy spine and future.

The post Patients with Reduced Neck Curve Experience an Increased Frequency of Disc Herniation 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.