Sometimes a headache is not just a headache. When they become more serious or more severe, headaches can be classified as either a tension headache or a migraine. While many people think they are prone to migraines they may actually have tension headaches instead. There are a lot of similarities between the two of these but a lot of differences as well. In either case, chiropractic care can help to stop the pain of a headache and may also help to lessen the number of headaches that are suffered through each week or month. If you are having a lot of headaches you may need to seek a chiropractor Long Beach MS.

Tension Headaches

The most common type of severe headache is the tension headache. Caused by stress which makes the muscles of the shoulder and neck tense up, these can feel like a tight belt or a clamp around the head or may focus on a single area, typically in the front near the forehead or on the side of the head. No matter where the location of the pain, it is described as mostly pressure that is constant rather than intermittent. It may be eased by some analgesics but they rarely go away with just medicine. Until the source of the pain is removed it will continue. That means until the tension is relieved the headache will probably go on.

Migraines

Like tension headaches, migraines can be located all over or centralized in one place. The key difference between the two is the sensation of the pain. With a migraine the pain is typically described as throbbing rather than constant. The pain may also feel sharper. Migraines may also cause a number of other symptoms including nausea, sensitivity to light, sound or smells. People who have migraines may have what is called an aura just before the pain begins. This can be a flash of light or color or a certain smell. Auras do not always happen before every migraine even for people that have them.

How a Chiropractor Can Help

One of the benefits of chiropractic care is the manipulation of the spine. If the chiropractor focuses on the area of the neck near the back of the head the tension will be relieved and the risk of tension headaches should be minimized. Continued chiropractic care will help you to keep your tension levels down and hopefully will keep you mostly headache free.

The spinal manipulation addresses not just recurring headaches but other issues in your body. Seeing a chiropractor Long Beach MS will help you get relief now and help you to lessen the headaches you have in the future.