How Chiropractic Care Can Help Tension Headaches

Tension headaches are the most common type of primary headaches.  The tension-related pain can exude from the back, neck, eyes, or other muscle groups in the body.  As these types of headaches can be episodic or chronic, and as tension headaches affect approximately 30% of the population, tension headaches can be a troublesome condition for one to have.  However it is important to weigh the benefits of chiropractic care in the discussion of tension headaches, which can help alleviate the condition.

Tension headaches have a varying set of symptoms and timeframe.  The pain experienced can be anywhere from mild to moderately intense.  The pain is normally characterized as a dully, aching head pain which can produce sensations of tightness or pressure on the forehead, sides, or back of the head.  Also, a tension headache can last anywhere from 15 minutes to one week.  If the headaches persist for 15 days in a month for at least three months, they are considered chronic tension headaches.

Tension headaches should not go untreated if they persist.  These types of headaches can become chronic if episodic headaches persist.  Those seeking to obtain relief should consider professional help if these headaches persist and if the body does not respond to home treatments.  

Often chiropractic care can alleviate these pains and provide a quicker and more cost-efficient way of treatment.  Also, mainstream medicine often resorts to expensive drugs and treatments which may not be warranted.  Often these treatments and tests should be considered if a more serious condition is present, which cause tension headaches.

Chiropractic care can be an effective way in treating tension headaches.  Tension headaches can most often be caused by muscular tension and contraction involving the muscles of the shoulders, neck, and head.  Whether as a result of emotion or physical stress, the muscular tension which results from the cause can create steady tension headaches.  Also, changes in posture and movement as a response to these forms of stress can additionally impact the onset of tension headaches.  These factors are key in how chiropractic care can alleviate tension headaches.

Chiropractic care providers are able to combat the muscular tension which often causes tension headaches.  Chiropractic adjustments and other therapies, such as trigger point therapy and massage, are able to break the cyclical nature of muscle tension-related pain.  By realigning the skeleton and releasing muscular tension these physical stressors are reduced so that further pain is not caused and the condition itself is targeted for treatment.  As muscles relax and as nerve irritation is reduced, patients may often find relief with just a few treatments.

Tension headaches can become a cyclical and debilitating condition.  They can also impede the daily functions and overall quality of life for sufferers.  However, sufferers should consider chiropractic care in order to combat the underlying symptoms of tension headaches.

The Top Stress Busters

The Top Stress Busters

There are several different types of stress, and learning how to control them can make all the difference. You have physical stress (lack of exercise, illness, sleep habits, etc.), mental stress (how you deal emotionally with life) and chemical stress (nutritional and environmental). Here are a few straightforward ways to help you reduce all three stress factors.

Proper Breathing: Proper breathing has a dramatic impact on muscle relaxation, tension reduction, normalizing heart rate, and increasing mental clarity. What you want to strive for is learning to breathe mostly with your diaphragm instead of your lungs. The diaphragm is the most efficient muscle for breathing. It is a large, dome-shaped muscle located at the base of the lungs. Learning how to breathe with your diaphragm takes some practice, but in time it will become second nature.

Practice the following technique on a daily basis for 5-10 minutes. Lie on your back, putting a pillow or similar support under your knees to relax your lower back. Place one hand on your abdomen and the other on your chest. Slowly inhale through your nose and make sure the only hand that moves is the one on your abdomen. Try to keep the hand on your chest as still as possible. Exhale through pursed lips and repeat.

Organization: Are you feeling overwhelmed with so much to do and so little time? Unclutter your life and get organized to take back control. Where do you start? You've got to have a plan. Create a list of the five most important tasks you need to complete for the day. Put the one you want to do the least at the top of the list to help prevent procrastination. It is human nature to delay things that make you feel uncomfortable. By accomplishing the difficult task first you set the tone for positive action and motivation the rest of the day.

Healthy Snacking: Eat healthy and eat often to control blood sugar levels. When you go long periods between meals, a hormone known as insulin spikes. This hormone controls how fast sugar enters your bloodstream after eating. Big surges in insulin occur when you wait too long between meals, which may increase stress on your body chemistry. You can get cravings and mood swings. Eating only three meals a day is insufficient for keeping this delicate balance of hormones in check. It is recommended that in addition to eating three regular meals a day, you mix in 2-3 healthy snacks. You will notice a renewed sense of energy and vitality as you provide your body and mind with the nutrition it needs.

Exercising: Get in shape and get out of stress; now there's a win-win proposition. Find an exercise you truly enjoy doing, not one you dread. Once you make it a part of your daily routine, it will become an integral part of your healthy lifestyle. Strive to get 20 minutes a day of some type of exercise. Walking is a great way to start. Get outside and enjoy the open air while at the same time clearing your mind. It can be an escape from all the chaos in your life. There is nothing like the calming effect of being around Mother Nature. Excess weight is also a stress on your body; regular exercise will help eliminate the pounds, improving your looks, your health and your state of mind.

Finding "Me Time": Take some solo time every morning before you start the day. Use this time to reflect on yesterday and plan out today's events. Set your alarm 15 minutes early and wake up to silence. Do not turn on the television or open the newspaper. You may find that problems which have plagued you suddenly become more manageable and put into perspective. When was the last time you sat in a room without white noise all around? Try it and see what happens. I have a feeling you will find it to be one of the most enjoyable moments of your day.

Try these stress busters for just one month and you can change your life. Even if you can't do all of them, start with a few and see how much less stress you have in your life. 

The Wheat and Dairy Allergy and Disease Connection

How does gluten (wheat) and casein (dairy) affect my child? I have been asked this question a plethora of times.  Let’s take a closer look at the situation.  Have you ever taken an opioid or prescription pain killer?  Whether pre- or post- surgery, due to chronic pain, or a broken bone, these drugs tend to cause a mix of euphoria, lethargy and clouded brain function / hallucinogenic thought.  If your child / children test positive for a gluten or casein allergy (or both), their bodies are unable to break down these foods.  A casein allergy indicates incomplete breakdown of milk, while a gluten allergy is directly linked to an inability to break down wheat or cereal products.


The incomplete breakdown of wheat, milk, or both turns the partially digested food into peptides.  When the peptides mix with stomach enzymes, they produce opioid peptides.  Gluten peptides are known as gluteomorphins.  Casein peptides are known as casomorphins.  At this point, the gluteomorphin and casomorphin in the system will either enter the urine or permeate the blood brain barrier.  If they reach the brain, they will ‘fit into’ an opioid receptor sites and mimic a hallucinogenic drug.  The peptides will alter the nervous and immune systems as well.


Long story short, a piece of cheese pizza could replicate an opioid drug when consumed.  Imagine standing in front of your child watching them consume a prescription pain pill.  It’s not a ‘warn fuzzy’ thought.


Prior to making any dietary alteration, its imperative you meet with a physician and test for food allergies.  It’s not a given that all autistic children have food allergies.  Based on my experience, a very high percentage will test positive for at least gluten, casein or soy.  Some parents are able to strictly adhere to the diet. 


I have counseled a tremendous amount of parents with newly diagnosed autistic children.  Based on my follow up, the GF/CF (and sometimes soy free) diet has been beneficial.  GF/CF foods have dramatically improved.  From your local supermarket to specialized markets like Whole Foods to a wide variety of internet sites, GF/CF foods are widely available.

Shouldering Too Heavy a Load

Day after day, year after year, children trot off to school carrying a significant burden with them: their backpack. Backpack weight is a major health issue, and it's only getting worse. Here's what you can do about it.

Do you know what's in your child's backpack, how much it weighs, or how that weight is affecting their neck, shoulders, back and spine? You need to know, because studies suggest far too many children are carrying far too heavy loads to and from school, and with serious consequences.

For example, a 2003 study in “Spine” found a significant relationship between the incidence of lower back pain among schoolchildren (ages 12-18) and both the weight of their backpacks and the amount of time the backpacks were used. Some backpacks were inordinately heavy; 18.9 percent of the students surveyed carried backpacks that weighed more than “20 percent” of the student's body weight when full.

In another study, published in the same journal a year earlier, four of five children said their backpacks were heavy, and two-thirds said they felt fatigue when carrying theirs. The study also showed that lifetime prevalence of low back pain was related to the amount of time children carried backpacks on their shoulders.

Not very good news, is it? So, what can you do as a parent to help your children in this regard? Here are a few simple suggestions courtesy of The Joint Chiropractic in Mount Pleasant:
*Make sure your child's backpack weighs no more than 10 percent of their body weight.
*Also ensure that it doesn't hang more than 4 inches below their waistline.
*Urge your child to wear both shoulder straps.
*The straps should be adjustable so the backpack can be easily fitted to your child's body.
*Look for a backpack with a lumbar support or pad and make sure pad fits or rides in curve of low back. Some backpacks have a waist belt that can be used also to minimize stress.

Why Kids Need Chiropractic Care

Why Kids Need Chiropractic Care

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Children and babies can suffer from neck pain, low back pain and headaches. Chiropractic adjustments offer a safe and effective way to help children feel better.
Many people simply do not know how much of difference Chiropractic adjustments can make to an infant or child’s health because infants and toddlers are usually unable say that their necks or low backs are hurting. When a child is old enough to tell an adult about his or her neck or back pain, it can easily be dismissed because many people find it hard to believe that a child could feel back pain like an adult does. Actually, they can and they do. The truth is that Chiropractic adjustments can easily treat the ailments of many infants and children.


Chiropractic for Babies

The birth process can be very traumatic to an infant, especially if the baby’s head and neck are pulled in any way during labour and birth. One easy method to tell if a baby’s neck is misaligned is to watch where he or she looks in a car seat. If the baby constantly looks in the same direction, the vertebrae in his or her neck are most likely fixed (the chiropractic term is subluxated). Subluxated vertebrae can often be irritated or sore and an adjustment will help those joints to move in a more normal range of motion, while reducing the discomfort that the baby experiences.

Colicky babies find great relief with Chiropractic adjustments. A Denmark study (Klougart N, Nilsson N, Jacobsen J. Infantile colic treated by chiropractors: a prospective study of 316 cases. J Manip Physiol Ther 1989; 12(4): 281-8) showed that 94% of the infants who received chiropractic care noted a significant decrease of crying time within two weeks of treatment.

As babies grow, and learn to crawl and walk, their spines are modified by their newly acquired body positions and by gravity. It is important to have a child’s spine checked at the major milestones of development, especially at the crawling and walking stages to ensure that the vertebrae are all moving in a normal pattern of motion.

Chiropractic for Toddlers

Another concern for Chiropractors with regards to children are bumps and falls. As babies learn to navigate their bodies in space, they fall frequently, and these jolts can cause misalignments in their spine. Anatomically, the spinal cord is housed by the vertebrae, and nerves exit in pairs from between each vertebra. When the vertebrae are out of alignment, they press on the nerves as they exit the spine. The result is that the nervous system is not able to function as well as it could.

Chiropractic for Children

Sports, especially contact sports can cause back or neck pain for children. Heading the ball when playing soccer, sliding into the boards head first in hockey, being hit by the ball or by other players in baseball or basketball can all cause misalignments in a child’s spine. Chiropractors can make the most difference the earlier they treat a child who has hurt his or her neck or back.

Children can suffer from migraine headaches. While Chiropractic care cannot help all types of migraines, some migraine headaches originate from fixed or subluxated vertebrae in the neck. Adjustments can help to reduce or eliminate the frequency and intensity of these types of migraine headaches.

Children can suffer from neck and low back pain if their backpacks are worn improperly or if they are carrying too much weight for their body size.

In Conclusion

It is very important that a child’s spine grows in proper alignment. If your baby seems uncomfortable or consistently refuses to look in one direction, please have his or her spine checked. If you child has had a fall, plays contact sports, or complains about neck or back pain, please consult with a Chiropractor. It can make a such a world of difference to your child’s health.

Above Down, and Inside Out!

Every day your body functions,
your eyes blink and see, your tongue tastes while your stomach digests, your ears hear and can even tell from which direction the sound is coming, and you can speak. During the day you walk, run, stand still, and sit, all the while you are breathing, your blood is circulating, the temperature of your body is being regulated, and your immune system is fighting off any bacteria or viruses with which you come in contact. Every night, while you sleep, your body is still working and working hard to replenish your energy, to rebuild the cells of your blood, skin, tissues and organs, and still you are breathing.
The only thing that controls every single one of these functions and thousands more is the most delicate master system. Its importance is so great that the main part of this system is housed in bone. The power of this system does not require any drugs or vaccines, it simply requires no interference from the bones that surround it.

This system is your nervous system.

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