Health and Exercise

Almost every person will experience a headache at some time, but the symptoms can vary quite a lot from person to person, and the frequency of the headache pain may happen occasionally or chronically. For example, some people only feel pain in one part of the head, often just behind the eyes. Other people feel pounding sensations in the whole head, and even nausea. The length and severity of headaches can also vary widely, even lasting for days in some cases. A Virginia Beach chiropractor should be able to provide relief for many headache problems.

Recurrent headaches split into two main types: migraine headaches, and tension (or stress) headaches, with tension headaches being the most common.

Most sufferers describe a dull, constant, aching feeling, as if being compressed by a tight band. This can be just on one side of the head, or on both sides of the head. Symptoms often start slowly, and build up over time. The duration of tension headaches can be some minutes, some hours or even more than one day.

Tension headaches can be caused by stress, such as mental stress at work, or revising for exams, or by physical stresses being imposed on the spine and neck, possibly from bad posture. Tension headaches often start after mid day, or in the evening.

Migraine headaches affect three times as many women as they do men. They can last for many days, and attacks are intense with throbbing head pain, and light and noise sensitivity.

Migraine headaches start with a constriction of the blood vessels in the brain. During this period sufferers often experience visual (or “aura”) symptoms, which let them know an attack is starting. The blood vessels then dilate, (or open wide) which allows a rapid inflow of blood into the brain. The increased blood pressure causes the severe pounding effect in the head, with a shock wave of pain hitting on every heart beat.

As each individual’s case is different a skilled chiropractic practitioner will examine and assess each case on its individual merits. For tension headaches a course of spinal manipulation may be an effective plan. A Virginia Beach Chiropractor will also be able to give advice on changes in diet and lifestyle which help combat migraine and some tension headaches.

Your Virginia Beach chiropractor is instrumental in solving problems with headaches. Find out more about the techniques that have been helping thousands of local residents by visiting the website at http://www.thespinegroup.net .