There is no such thing as a “normal” headache. All headaches are a sign that there is a problem in need of correction. In the majority of cases, the headache itself is the primary problem. Rarely headaches are a sign of a more significant problem.
For primary headaches the list of related problems and causes is long, and includes postural stress, teeth grinding, jaw clicking (popping), improper work stations, dehydration, and physical injuries (such as whiplash) and more.
Pain is a warning sign that damage is occurring, not an indicator that you are low on pain killers.
So instead of thinking of a headache as some mystical symptom with no tangible source, consider looking at your body like it is a machine. If the tires in your car are out of alignment and are wearing away we don’t give them pain medication. We fix the alignment so that the normal activity of the car does not cause further damage.
It is the same for your body. If the jaw is clenching it puts tension on the muscles related to the neck, and over time the abnormal motion causes damage that results in headaches.
Chiropractic is an effective tool to address many common underlying causes of headaches including:
-Jaw and spinal misalignment
-Teeth grinding
-Poor posture
When the spine or jaw are not aligned properly it not only aggravates the muscles attached to the bones, it also irritates the nervous system that pass through the spine. Good spinal health helps to keep the nervous system in balance and reduce or resolve headaches.
Remember that headaches are not just a symptom of adults. When it comes to headaches, age is not the most important factor. Children have bigger heads relative to their bodies, so stresses and bad posture have a bigger impact on them. The stress can come as soon as delivery.
In chiropractic there is an old saying: “As the twig is bent, so grows the tree”. Consider that pain of any type is a warning sign that your body is suffering damage. It is important to know why the pain is there rather than covering it up.
