Headaches Got You Down

I recently came across some research studies concerning headaches. At one time or another, every person on the planet will have some form of a headache. If 80% of the population has had back pain at one point in there lives, it is safe to say 100% of the population has had a headache. The two most common types of headaches are Migraines and Tension headaches. Tension headaches are simple to describe. These are the headaches that come from tension to the muscles of the shoulders and neck. Muscles contract, pull on the cervical vertebra, disrupt nerve flow and impede circulation to the head. This causes headaches. Eliminate the tension and the headache will go away. Most people who suffer from regular tension headaches have a chronic tension headache problem. The solution to correcting the tension requires a little more effort on the sufferers part. Chiropractic, stress management, acupuncture and massage are helpful in correcting this problem. Migraine headaches are the more severe headache and can put sufferers out of action for days. One of the more common triggers of migraine headaches is the consumption of foods containing phenylalanine. Phenylalanine is an amino acid that is contained in MSG, artificial sweeteners and nitrates. Monosodium Glutamate is a big offender. MSG is such a big trigger of headaches that food companies sometimes will not list it as an ingredient. The following food additives contain MSG: Calcium caseinate, sodium caseinate, autolyzed yeast and hydrolyzed protein. Recent nutrition research may help migraine sufferers. 400mg of riboflavin for 3 months reduced headache attacks by by 67%. Vitamin B2 cut the number of headache days by 50% and in a double blind study, 600mg of magnesium reduced attack frequency by 41%.

Thought for the Week: "Why search the world over for an exterminator or an antidote for a disease? Why not look for the cause of the ailments in the person affected and then correct it?" ------------- BJ Palmer, D.C.

Chiropractic Thought for the Week: Misaligned, subluxated vertebra occur from stress or tension on the muscles. It only makes sense then, that Tension Headaches can be corrected with chiropractic care. Spinal adjustments relax muscle tension by balancing the muscles in the neck and shoulders. The correction of the subluxation also eliminates nerve disruption and improves circulation, thus correcting cervical tension headaches. Migraine sufferers often find relief when cervical subluxations are corrected.