What are Tension Headaches?
There are many kinds of headaches that people may have for many reasons. One of the most common types of headaches is called tension headaches. These types of headaches are usually brought on by stress, anxiety, or muscle tension. Some people may get them due to poor posture, strained muscles, or dehydration.
Tension headaches can be moderate or severe. Trying to get through a day with a tension headache can be difficult, but thankfully the right treatment can greatly reduce or eliminate tension headaches.
Signs and Symptoms of Tension Headaches
Tension headaches generally are felt in the forehead, around the temples, or in the back of the head. It may feel like you have pressure across these areas of your head as if the muscles are tight or strained.
Some people with tension headaches may suffer from light or noise sensitivity. When you have this type of headache, it can make you feel fatigued and make it difficult to concentrate. Some sufferers may experience nausea or dizziness during a headache.
How the Upper Cervical Spine Affects Tension Headaches
The upper cervical spine is made up of seven vertebrae. These vertebrae make up the upper part of the spinal column, starting just below the skull and going down the neck. They play an important role in supporting the weight of the head and protecting the central nervous system right where the brain stem connects to the spinal column.
When these vertebrae are misaligned, it can cause inflammation, swelling, or compressed nerves. It can throw off the posture of the head and neck, causing strain and fatigue in the muscles and ligaments. All this can result in tension in the head, bringing on tension headaches, or in worse cases, migraines.
The head and neck are vulnerable spots on the body and are prone to injury. Misalignments can happen from a jolt to the head, craning the neck to look down at devices, or even from a poor night's sleep on a bad mattress. Without intervention, the problem can grow worse over time, making headaches more frequent or more severe.
How Our Tension Headache Treatment Works
Dr. Gordon Elder is our upper cervical spine chiropractic expert. The doctor specializes in the Blair Chiropractic Technique, which focuses on the health and alignment of the uppermost seven vertebrae to prevent the kind of inflammation and nerve compressions that may cause tension headaches.
The Blair technique is a modern chiropractic technique that does not involve the jarring snaps and cracks associated with traditional chiropractic methods. It is a safe, gentle, non-invasive, drug-free treatment for tension headaches.
Dr. Gordon Elder begins treatment with a thorough health screening. At our office, the doctor will use our state-of-the-art medical diagnostic equipment to conduct 3D scans of your spine so that he can find the exact locations of any misalignments.
Dr. Elder will use precise, low-force pressure to gently bring your spine back to proper alignment. The doctor will then check the alignment in 10-15 minute follow-up visits over the next few months to ensure the vertebrae remain in the correct position and the body is healing the damage. Beyond that, Dr. Elder recommends regular checkups to ensure the health of your upper cervical spine by nipping any potential problems in the bud.
If you suffer from tension headaches, contact our offices to see if Dr. Elder can help find the root cause of the problem. We service clients in Lubbock, Amarillo, Midland, Odessa, Abilene, and El Paso in Texas, as well as Hobbs in New Mexico.
Published by Vic Belonogoff: A Blair Chiropractic doctor helped heal vertigo, among other conditions that Vic Belonogoff suffered from, and it gave him his life back. He continues to see an upper cervical chiropractor as a preventative measure. Vic Belonogoff is passionate about upper cervical chiropractic and how much it helps patients.