When you get a tension headache, it might feel as though a tight band or dull ache wraps around your head or behind your eyes. Subluxations in your neck and upper back often cause these headaches, which can be effectively treated by your chiropractor at Duben Holistic Chiropractic Center in Thousand Oaks, CA. Find out more about chiropractic care for tension headaches below.
What Is a Tension Headache?
A tension headache is mild to moderate pain diffused around your head. While tension headaches are the most common kind of headache, their causes aren't totally understood. Despite that, if you experience tension headaches, chiropractic adjustments can help.
Most people who get tension headaches say they feel a dull, achy pain on one or both sides of their head. It may also be present behind the eyes. These headaches typically build slowly and may last for a short time or go on for days. They often manifest in the middle or at the end of the day. Tension headaches generally develop from stress or bad posture. Bad posture strains the muscles in the upper back and neck, which leads to pain.
Tension headaches, also called stress headaches may last as little as 30 minutes. However, chronic tension headaches sometimes persist for months. The pain varies in severity, but doesn't usually accompany other symptoms like throbbing pain or nausea.
Subluxations in the upper back and neck, in combination with active trigger points often cause tension headaches. Here's how it works:
The top neck vertebrae lose their position and the small rectus capitis muscle goes into a spasm. This small muscle has a tendon that slips the base of the skull and upper neck, where it attaches to the dura mater, pain-sensitive tissue that covers your brain. During a tension headache, the rectus capitis muscle spasms and the tendon pulls at the dura mater, resulting in a tension headache.
Another cause is due to referred pain via trigger points in the levator muscles on each side of your neck. These are common for people suffering from whiplash.
How Can a Chiropractor Treat Tension Headaches?
Every case is different. One of our chiropractors will evaluate your specific case before recommending a treatment plan. In most cases, manipulation of your upper two cervical vertebrae along with adjustments to the meeting of the cervical and thoracic spine can help.
Self Remedies
Here are some tips for temporary relief at home or work:
- Close your eyes and relax your neck muscles.
- Massage your temples and neck.
- Try a heating pad or warm cloth wrapped around your neck to ease the pain.
- Minimize stress and pay close attention to your diet.
Eating food that gives your body the necessary nutrition and drinking plenty of water helps your body heal itself.
Tension Headaches Relief in Westlake Village, CA
Contact us online or stop by Duben Holistic Chiropractic Center in Thousand Oaks, CA, to make an appointment to alleviate your tension headache pain.
