Headaches account for 20% of patients presenting for outpatient medial care. It is estimated that one person in three suffers from severe headaches at some point in life. However, it is also common knowledge that most persons affected with a mild recurrent headache do not seek help from physicians hence the true incidence is unknown.

One recent survey demonstrated that in some populations, 70-90% of subjects questioned admitted to having a at least one headache in the previous year, with a similar incidence reported in children. Worldwide more than 13,000 tons of aspirin are consumed every year with a major portion utilized for the relief of a headache.

Chiropractors have an excellent understanding of how and why patients suffer from headaches. A thorough/detailed history, neurological and physical examination, spinal scan can help establish the type of headache. It is imperative first of all to have a broad knowledge of the anatomy of the head.

The type and location of the pain experienced wand whether the pain follows a sensory (nerve) tract within the head is also very important. Complicating the history process is the understanding that many persons afflicted with headaches, especially those with a chronic headache history, will sufer from far more than one type of headache.

Key points to understanding headaches include:

• How many types occur?
• Frequency, periodicity, severity and length of
• How long for maximum intensity and the evolution of the headache.
• Precipitating factors or chemical, physical, emotional stressors
• Is there a prodroma, what increases or decreases it
• Dietary and lifestyle factors

Finally, it is also crucial to know the modalities (both effective and ineffective) that the patient has explored in the past.

Chiropractic is certainly not a cure for headaches. Rather, the doctor of chiropractic is trained to locate and reduce any restrictions in the spine, particularly the neck, which may cause some irritation/interference to the nerves within that area. Apart from treating/adjusting your spine your chiropractor at the Lisburn and Bangor chiropractic clinics will also focus their attention on your lifestyle and whether there may be any chemical, physical or emotional overlay to your headache.

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