Headaches can, and often do, stop you in your tracks. Whether it’s the pressure behind your eyes, throbbing at the base of your head at the occiput, or the constant tension across your forehead, it’s probably exhausting, distracting, and making you frustrated. You might be pushing through your workday, skipping social events, or snapping back at loved ones, not because you want to or you're that type of person, but because the pain is to blame. It's irritating and draining you.

Most people try the usual fixes first, we're talking painkillers, stretching, massages, even trips to the GP or physiotherapist for a rub-down and exercise prescription. Sometimes these help temporarily, but often the headaches keep coming back. That’s because the root cause hasn’t been addressed, that's where we come in.

Here’s what many people don’t understand; new research from the ASRF shows that recurring headaches are often the result of spinal misalignments, known as subluxations, that place stress on your nervous system. There may be other factors involved however, so a detailed examination and diagnostics are required before anyone can be sure.

At Adjusting to Health, we see this pattern every week. Someone comes in for neck pain, upper back tension, or poor posture, and they mention chronic headaches as a side note. Having headaches or migraines is not normal and is something that requires special attention. What surprises them is that as their spine starts functioning better, their headaches often start to fade.

That’s because Chiropractic care is different. We’re not treating symptoms. We’re restoring function, symptoms tend to fade by proxy.

Your spine is the communication highway between your brain and your body. When the vertebrae in your neck or upper back are out of alignment, they can irritate surrounding nerves and restrict blood flow, creating the perfect storm for tension headaches, cervicogenic headaches, suboccipital headaches or even migraines.

As Chiropractors, our goal isn’t to just “crack” your neck and make a popping sound. It’s to understand what’s really going on. Through a detailed consultation, posture scan, spinal exam, and clear adjustment plan, we help your nervous system function at a higher level, which, over time, can reduce the frequency, intensity and even the need to reach for some pain relief medications.

If headaches are interrupting your life, affecting your sleep, your mood, or your ability to focus, don’t ignore them. Your body is sending you a message, don’t ignore the signs. Let’s find out what’s really going on. You can learn more about how chiropractic can help with headaches here.

- Written by Dr Pakha