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.

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.

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.

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.