HEADACHES

Headache! Random House Dictionary defines headache as "a pain located in the head, as over the eyes, at the temples, or at-the base of the skull." Head-pain would be a better descriptive name. This head pain can be a sharp stabbing pain that happens suddenly without warning or it may sneak up on you as a dull throbbing that does not seem to ease up. It doesn't matter what name it carries, you know what a headache is. It is one of the most, if not the most frequent health complaint. Findings, in one survey have shown that pain is the number one health complaint, with headache being the number one pain. Chronic, or regularly recurrent headaches are extremely common. Eventually, nearly everyone will get a headache, and most headaches are a symptom rather than a condition. In other words, a headache is an indication something else is wrong. Another report shows that "the inhabitants of the United States collectively consume several tons of aspirin each year, at a cost of over $100, 000, 000, mostly for pain relief." Headache is the most common type of pain. A headache can be from something simple or very complicated. There are several named varieties-migraine, cluster, and tension are some of the more well-known varieties.

MANY CONDITIONS CAN PRECIPITATE HEADACHES

Headaches can be caused from brain tumors and other brain disorders or from the side effects of drugs, legal or illegal. There are headaches caused by eye diseases or vision problems. Headaches can be associated with blood pressure problems, teeth problems, ear problems, fevers and infections. Even some medical treatment or tests can cause headaches. A person may have a "tension" or "nervous" headache brought on by everyday tension and/or emotional stress
In fact, there are nearly as many things that can cause or contribute to a headache as there are people that have headaches. What to do about a headache, or choosing the proper treatment, can be very confusing. Most of the many conditions that can precipitate headaches, and there are more than those mentioned above, have at least one thing in common -nerve irritation. Dorland's Medical Dictionary defines pain as "a feeling of distress, suffering or agony caused by stimulation of specialized nerve endings." There can be no pain unless the specialized sensory nerves are stimulated (irritated), resulting in the transmission of nerve impulses to the brain. When spinal vertebrae misalign even slightly, or their normal mobility altered, sensory and motor nerves can be irritated or even damaged. This is known as a vertebral subluxation complex, or biomechanical lesion commonly shortened to just subluxation.
Chiropractors have found. Subluxations to be one of the most common causes of nerve irritation. Since nerve irritation is a factor in all pain, headache included, subluxations are one of the most common contributing factors.

MEDICAL TREATMENT

Correcting the cause is the only way to effectively treat headaches. If your headache is caused by eye problems, eyeglasses may reduce your headaches. If your headache is caused by a sinus or ear infection, controlling the infection can bring the headache under control. If your headache is caused by a "pinched nerve," correcting the cause of the" pinched nerve" will bring the headache under control. The Medical profession usually treats most headaches with mild pain killers or other drugs. The public spends millions every year on over-the-counter drugs to relieve headaches. Narcotics are usually prescribed for more severe headaches and in some cases the side effects are more severe than the headaches. Masking the pain with pain killing drugs, prescribed or over-the-counter, is not the answer.

CHIROPRACTIC CARE

Chiropractic is not an extra-strength "pain pill" nor are chiropractic adjustments a treatment for headaches or head-pain. In spite of this, people that suffer with headaches are seeking chiropractic care in greater numbers than ever because chiropractors treat one of the most common causes of headache-"pinched nerves" caused by subluxations-and have a high level of patient satisfaction among headache sufferers. Chiropractors are the most qualified health care professionals, because of training and experience, to analyze and treat vertebral subluxations that are , the number one cause of "pinched nerves." Today, because of our stressful lifestyle, poor eating habits, environmental pollution, lack of proper exercise, etc., millions are suffering from subluxations and nerve irritation. Subluxations can irritate the nerves and create interference with the forces that control and coordinate the body. This condition can cause malfunction in the body and lead to diseases -headaches included, and many people may not even know they have a problem until the symptoms become severe and in some cases so severe it is too late for complete restoration of health. Why? Because:

THE ABSENCE OF PAIN DOES NOT NECESSARlLY MEAN THE PRESENCE OF HEALTH

Pain is not a disease process, it is only a symptom. You can have a serious health problem with or without pain. Only sensory nerves carry pain messages and pain (in this case headache) is felt only when these nerves are irritated. People without pain might be considered unfortunate because they think the absence of pain means they are healthy and may delay proper treatment. Those that do have pain should not eliminate or cover up the pain with pain killing drugs. This does nothing to correct the cause and may delay proper treatment. The cause must be corrected before long-lasting relief and health can be restored. Therefore, it is important to understand that the absence of pain does not necessarily mean the presence of health.

THE SPINAL CHECKUP

Doctors of chiropractic analyze the spinal column and other joints of the body for subluxations that can have an adverse effect on the nervous system and interfere with normal bodily functions. Even when you are feeling well you should have a spinal checkup because spinal subluxations may be causing serious harm to your body without your knowledge. If your chiropractor finds you have subluxations, specific manipulation techniques (without drugs or surgery) will be used to correct the subluxation and relieve the nerve irritation. This allows normal flow of nerve impulses that contributes to the restoration of normal function and health. This procedure is called a chiropractic adjustment. The direct purpose of the chiropractic spinal adjustment is to reduce nerve irritation. This allows the body to restore itself to a greater level of health and in the process relieves pain.

DON'T DELAY PROPER TREATMENT-CONSULT YOUR DOCTOR OF CHIROPRACTIC. ..NOW!

When you have a headache, or any of hundreds of named conditions or a pain without a name, delaying proper treatment is dangerous and can result in a major health problem. Seek a chiropractic examination immediately to see if yours is a condition which comes within the scope of chiropractic. The pain you suffer may be because the cause of the pain has been ignored and proper treatment has been delayed. Even if you are seeing other health care providers, it is still advisable to see a chiropractor to make sure your spine is subluxation free and your nervous system is functioning normally because everyone needs a healthy nervous system.

Chiropractic Gets ResuIts. Patient Satisfaction Proves It!