Portland Chiropractor - Dr. Dennis Nowack: April 2009

Tuesday, April 21, 2009

Post-traumatic Headaches

Post-traumatic headaches are headaches initiated from head or neck injury, such as in a whiplash-type injury or blow to the head. The resulting headache varies from person to person. Most commonly, the resulting post-traumatic headache is one of the following:

post-traumatic cervicogenic headache
post-traumatic muscle tension headache
post-traumatic migraine headache
post-traumatic cluster headache
post-traumatic vascular headache

The most favorable outcomes are seen with those who seek early treatment. It's also important immediately following any head trauma to rule out subdural hematoma, a potentially fatal condition caused by intracranial bleeding. Chiropractors frequently treat post-traumatic headaches and do so with success.

Again, individuals should be warned that relying on analgesics to remedy post-traumatic headaches does nothing to correct the cause of the headache and generally worsens the headache in what's known as the "rebound effect". See "Drug-Induced Headaches" below for more information.

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Thursday, April 16, 2009

Chiropractic for High Blood Pressure

Need help with your health? Give this Portland Chiropractor a call!

Tuesday, April 7, 2009

Muscle Tension Headaches

Tension headaches are the most common headache type, representing approximately 60% of all headaches. These headaches are caused by the sustained contraction of the muscles in the neck and head region. The sustained muscle contraction is usually a result of a combination of the following:

cervical/neck misalignments and faulty neck biomechanics
previous neck/upper back injury- not properly rehabilitated
poor posture
Excessive emotional stress
anxiety or depression
prolonged sitting or driving
improper sleeping habits

Characteristically, these headaches are generally mild to moderate in intensity and can last from hours to days. There is a constant tight or pressure sensation, generally feeling like a tight band is wrapping around the head.

There is commonly pain and tightness in the area of the neck and shoulder. Pain generally starts in the base of the skull or temporal regions of the head and spreads outwards to affect other areas of the head and neck.

Chiropractors have great success treating muscle tension headaches. By utilizing spinal adjustments, therapeutic exercises and stretches, soft tissue techniques such as trigger point work and massage, and by counseling on lifestyle modification, tension headaches can become a thing of the past.

Individuals should be warned that relying on analgesics to remedy tension headaches does nothing to correct the cause of the headache and generally worsens the headache in what's known as the "rebound effect". See "Drug-Induced Headaches" below for more information.

Wednesday, April 1, 2009

A Chiropractic Miracle?

Looking for a Portland Chiropractor for your own "miracle"? Give us a call!

Portland Chiropractor - Dr. Dennis Nowack