By Dr. Susan Mitchell, Mitchell Family Chiropractic
Headaches are so common in today’s society that for many of us it has just become status quo. Some describe it as a tension that comes up into the back of the head after working at a computer all day. Others feel like their head is “in a vice” or their eyes hurt. Some people have headaches that make them light sensitive and nauseous where they have to go to a dark room. Sometimes these headaches are rare and sometimes quite often.
According to the National Institutes of Health, more than 45 million Americans have headaches severe enough to require the help of a health care professional. The toll on the economy from migraines alone is immense — direct costs (from prescription drugs, outpatient expenses, and emergency room and inpatient care) are estimated at $11 billion and indirect costs (such as missed work days) may exceed $12 billion annually. Clearly, there are many people that are looking for relief.
What you should know is any symptom, including a headache, is your body sending you a warning signal that there is a problem. A headache is not your body saying to you, “hey, we have checked your Tylenol levels and they are a little low, please replenish.” There are many different causes of headaches. It is important to not ignore or just cover up those warnings with medications, but to find out the root cause and deal with that. Once you know what the true cause is, then you can begin to find a solution.
Most people treat their headaches with some sort of medication, whether over-the-counter or prescription, and most people know that all medications have side effects and possible risks. For example, Tylenol overuse has been linked to liver damage and, ironically, taking some pain medications too often can cause what they call rebound headaches. There are a number of natural approaches for treating different types of headaches that do not have side effects and may be a better choice for finding a solution.
Some of these natural solutions include relaxation training, massage, spinal manipulation, and various dietary modifications or supplements. Literature reviews suggest that spinal manipulation offers some benefit for tension-type headaches and that it also may prevent migraines as well as the prescription medication. There are often nutritional and physical aspects that could be causing your headaches such as not drinking enough water, environmental factors, food allergies, or food sensitivities.
It is important to see a physician to rule out any life threatening possibilities for a headache. Always communicate with your health care provider about any natural or complementary approaches you are doing. Your headache: what is the cause and what is the solution? What is your body saying?
If you would like to join us on April 8 at 6 p.m. at Heartland College, we will be discussing the three main types of headaches and their causes and solutions. The cost for the class is $35 per person. Please call 309-268-8160 to register.