Headaches are a pain in the neck – literally. An article released in The News-Press, estimates that 20% of chronic headache conditions are caused by problems in the neck. The article was written by a physical therapist who went on to describe how something such as bad posture could pinch nerves in the neck and result in a headache.
Poor posture is more damaging than it may seem. Headaches are just one of the problems that can develop from poor posture. Herniated discs, scoliosis, and even the poor function of your internal organs can sometimes be attributed to poor posture. Listed below are some suggestions for improving your posture at work and at home.
If practicing good posture is not alleviating your neck aches or headaches, you might have a deeper issue that needs to be seen by a professional. Things like poor posture, trips and falls, and sports injuries can cause the uppermost vertebrae of the spine to move out of place. When this happens, nerves can be pinched, muscles become tense in an attempt to support the weakened area, and headaches can develop. Here at Advanced Spinal Care, in Redwood City, California, we do a careful analysis of each patient’s situation to see if upper cervical chiropractic care could be beneficial for them. If we detect a misalignment in the upper cervical vertebrae, we use a gentle technique to move the bones back to their correct alignment. Many patients experience great relief from their headaches and neck aches after receiving our care.
To schedule a complimentary consultation call our Redwood City office at 650-595-0500 You can also click the button below.
if you are outside of the local area you can find an Upper Cervical Doctor near you at www.uppercervicalawareness.com.
Migraines are a neurological condition that can be disabling for those suffering from them. The setbacks are not just physical but financial as well. Migraines affect as many as 38 million in the United States with women being a majority of that number. They are three times more likely to get migraines than men.
What are the financial affects for those suffering from migraines? An estimated 113 million days of work are lost leading to $13 billion in employer losses due to migraines. Financial loss in the US, including migraine treatment, accumulates to a shocking $36 billion per year.
There has been some recent research showing that migraines may be exacerbated by fluorescent lighting. Spending days working with this type of lighting can put you at a higher risk of migraine episodes. It’s common for migraine sufferers to experience light sensitivity, and fluorescent lighting has proved to be so aggravating for this condition that it can trigger a migraine event.
Finding a solution for migraine pain is high on the priority list for those who have regular or even infrequent episodes. There has been considerable success with treating migraines using upper cervical chiropractic care. Upper cervical chiropractors are specially trained to identify misalignments in the upper neck area, the C1 and C2 vertebrae in particular. The role of these bones is to protect the brainstem and allow the range of movement that our head is able to employ on a daily basis. Numerous issues can arise if they are misaligned, even by ¼ of a millimeter, because this puts pressure on the brainstem, inhibiting proper function. The brainstem acts as switchboard between the brain and body, sending and receiving signals that help the body to function normally. When it comes under distress, the communication gets interrupted, and it can also affect normal blood flow to and from the brain. At Advanced Spinal Care, our unique method called NUCCA does not require forcing the spine. Instead we work with the spine, encouraging the bones to return to their correct alignment, enabling the natural healing capabilities of the body. This is how we are able to get patients back to feeling better, sometimes after only one or two adjustments.
To schedule a complimentary consultation call our Redwood City office at 650-595-0500 You can also click the button below.
if you are outside of the local area you can find an Upper Cervical Doctor near you at www.uppercervicalawareness.com.
How do you know if you are suffering from chronic migraines? You may have chronic migraines if the following characteristics describe you:
Understandably, people who are suffering from chronic migraines can often miss out on multiple events in their life. Everyday life occasions like school, work, and social time with family and friends are all affected. Upwards of 4 million people are diagnosed with chronic migraines, with women in the majority of those diagnosed. That is an immense number of people whose lives are being disrupted on a daily basis. What options are available for helping with this widespread problem?
Primary care physicians or neurologists usually recommend that patients keep a journal of their headaches, including foods they ate and what they did prior to and after a migraine attack. By including all these details, it can become relatively clear what may be triggering and even causing the migraines. A few of the things that should be included in these types of journals are weather conditions, temperature, food and beverages consumed, and stress levels.
Oftentimes there are prescription drugs that can be used for treating the pain caused by migraines. The problem is that medications will many times also include unwanted side effects that could lead to more headaches when taken too frequently. As natural remedies have become more popular, people have begun to search for a more holistic approach to coping with migraine pain.
A connection has been clearly established between a misalignment in the upper neck and migraine headaches. If you do have a misalignment in the vertebrae of your neck and you are suffering from chronic migraines, this could be the answer you have been looking for. Here’s why it works. The C1 and C2 vertebrae have the job of protecting the brainstem, which is important maintaining proper communication to and from the brain and body. When these bones are out of alignment, this delicate system no longer works well. Dysfunctions with communication, blood flow, and cerebrospinal fluid flow occur. All of these issues make for a perfect storm for migraines to happen. As soon as the misalignment is corrected using our gentle method, the body can begin to heal and once again return to optimal function. In many cases, this is enough to combat migraine pain with lasting results. If you’d like to know more about how upper cervical chiropractic care can serve you, contact us for a free consultation.
To schedule a complimentary consultation call our Redwood City office at 650-595-0500 You can also click the button below.
if you are outside of the local area you can find an Upper Cervical Doctor near you at www.uppercervicalawareness.com.
Having a severe headache does not necessarily mean that you are experiencing a migraine. There different types of headaches that produce different levels and types of pain. In this article, we will discuss some of the more definitive signs of a migraine headache.
An estimated 28 million US residents get migraines, according to the National Headache Foundation. Among those affected, most are women. This type of headache can be so excruciating that it interrupts a person’s ability to function in daily life. Here is a list of several migraine symptoms:
Certain foods may trigger migraines. For example, chocolate, alcohol and caffeine have been known to trigger migraines in some people. Other culprits are skipping a meal, getting too little sleep, using tobacco or being stressed. The question is, what can be done for relief from migraines?
Generally, the first place people turn to is their doctor, who normally prescribes a pain medication to take upon migraine onset. The problem is that many of these medications come with harmful side-effects, and they only manage the symptoms without resolving the underlying problem.
Upper Cervical Chiropractors have a thorough knowledge of the how the spinal structure directly impacts the effectiveness of the central nervous system and how this may be a key to the origin of migraines in their patients. The upper neck is composed of the atlas and axis, two vertebra that house the brainstem. Any misalignment to this area can cause upsets to the brainstem, disrupting vital signals for the brain and body’s connection, causing migraine symptoms. With specialized training in this unique part of the spine, upper cervical chiropractors can correct these types of alignment issues with precision and very little pressure. Many patients report that their migraines become less frequent and milder, and some patients even report that their migraines have stopped completely.
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To schedule a complimentary consultation call our Redwood City office at 650-595-0500 You can also click the button below.
if you are outside of the local area you can find an Upper Cervical Doctor near you at www.uppercervicalawareness.com.
Headaches are one of the most common health complaints worldwide and there are many headache types. In the United States alone, as many as 14 percent of the population (around 45 million people) have chronic headache conditions, according to the National Headache Foundation. Headaches rank as the number one reason people call in sick to work or school. As many as 157 million days are missed yearly due to head pain. This negatively impacts productivity and education. But what kind of headache do you actually suffer from?
It can be hard to tell one kind of headache from another. Here is a brief list of some common headaches:
Headaches happen when something in the body is not right. A connection has been seen between headaches and a misaligned bone in the top part of the neck. Correcting this misalignment often leads to relief of headaches. Upper cervical chiropractors are specially trained to do this. A gentle adjustment is often all that is needed to help those suffering from headaches.
To schedule a complimentary consultation call our Redwood City office at 650-595-0500 You can also click the button below.
if you are outside of the local area you can find an Upper Cervical Doctor near you at www.uppercervicalawareness.com.
Headaches seem to follow traumatic events. Is it just a coincidence or is there a reason for it? If you have recently gone through some sort of trauma -- a car accident, a sporting injury, a serious fall, a blow to the head or neck, or a similar event -- you may find yourself suffering from headaches just a short time later. Some people feel like this is just a natural part of getting injured and eventually the headaches will go away. This is not true. You do not need to suffer from headaches repeatedly. In fact, they may be doing more damage than you even realize. However, help is available.
If your head injury was serious enough to cause a concussion, you can have lingering problems from it. The head is situated at the top of the neck where the C1 vertebra is located. The C1 allows the head to have a great range of motion while it also protects the delicate brainstem. Even a mild blow to the head can cause the C1 bone to move out of place. If this occurs, the misalignment can put stress on the brainstem and cause it to malfunction and begin sending improper signals to the brain about what is going on in your body. A misalignment here can also act as a hindrance to the flow of blood and cerebrospinal fluid getting to and leaving the brain. This may be the reason you are beginning to experience those headaches after walking away without a scratch from that accident two weeks or even two years ago. The damage may have been done inside.
Visiting an upper cervical chiropractor can be the first step toward finding headache relief. We use a low-force correction that does not require us to pop or crack the neck or spine. Rather, we coax the bones back into their original position and allow them to move back into place on their own. This often results in relief in or even an elimination of headaches.
A common misconception about migraines is they are just really bad headaches. While a headache is one of the symptoms of a migraine, common headaches can often be resolved by drinking some water to ward off dehydration or getting a good night’s rest. Migraines are much more complicated. It can take days or even weeks until you feel like you have actually recovered from a migraine and are back on your feet.
The exact cause of migraines remains a mystery among the medical community in general. Many people are desperately searching for an answer to this debilitating condition. Many theories abound and much research is still being done. One thing is agreed upon, however. Migraines are neurological in nature, indicating both the vascular system and the nervous system are involved. This is important to remember when seeking care for your migraines.
To understand better how migraines may develop, we need to get a better look at how the head and neck are connected. The head sits on top of the neck. The skull has a small opening at its base where the brainstem and spinal cord pass through. The atlas is the C1 vertebra and is located at the very top of the spine. If the atlas happens to shift out of place due to a blow to the head or neck, it can cause the head to tilt, throwing off the delicate balance system in this area of the body. This puts the brainstem under pressure and can compromise the flow of blood and cerebrospinal fluid -- a perfect scenario for migraines to develop.
Here at Advanced Spinal Care in Redwood City, California, we use a gentle method to realign the bones of the upper cervical spine. We do not have to pop or crack the neck to get positive results. Rather, we encourage the bones to realign themselves more naturally, leading to a longer-lasting adjustment. Our patients often report seeing a decrease in their migraines after only a few visits.
To schedule a complimentary consultation call our Redwood City office at 650-595-0500 You can also click the button below.
if you are outside of the local area you can find an Upper Cervical Doctor near you at www.uppercervicalawareness.com.
Migraines are becoming more and more common. Whether it is the fast pace of life or the amount of stress people are dealing with, migraines are on the rise. They are the third most prevalent illness worldwide. Migraines often begin during puberty. They affect women 3 times more often than men, and as many as 39 million adults in the United States are diagnosed with migraines.
Seeking care from your family physician may result in a number of tests being conducted to see why your migraines are occurring. The physician might suggest trying an over-the-counter medication or might give you a prescription for something stronger. However, the current trend is for people to seek more natural means for caring for their health problems, migraines included, so as to avoid the dangerous side effects of medications.
Scanning the brains of those who experience migraines has revealed some interesting information. Australian researchers discovered that patients who have migraines also have an increased amount of GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid) in their brains in comparison with the brains of those who do not have migraines. GABA is responsible for how the brain understands and processes pain by hindering the nervous system. This information can help to determine who might experience migraines versus who might not; however, it does nothing to solve the existing problem. To do that, we need to examine the underlying issue.
An underlying cause of migraines has been linked to a misalignment in the bones of the upper cervical spine. A tiny misalignment, even as small as ¼ of a millimeter, can result in the brainstem not functioning as it should. It puts the brainstem under stress, causing it to send improper signals to the brain. In addition, the arteries can also be affected and might not deliver the proper flow of blood and oxygen to the brain. This can lead to migraines.
Here at Advanced Spinal Care in Redwood City, California, we use a gentle method to encourage the misaligned bones to move back into place. This often results in relief for those with migraines.
To schedule a complimentary consultation call our Redwood City office at 650-595-0500 You can also click the button below.
if you are outside of the local area you can find an Upper Cervical Doctor near you at www.uppercervicalawareness.com.
There are as many as 200 different types of headaches, making it difficult to find out which one you are suffering from. Headaches are little understood because the brain has no nerves and, therefore, cannot feel any pain. So, when you have a headache, it is the nerves and muscles of the head, neck, and spinal cord that are irritated and causing pain. If your sinuses, eyes, or ears become inflamed, headaches can be the end result. If you have facial pain, this is called cranial neuralgia.
What does cranial neuralgia mean? Neuralgia means nerve pain, and cranial neuralgia refers to a group of headaches that are caused by inflammation of one of the 12 nerves in the head and upper neck. These nerves are responsible for sensation in the head, including the face. The following conditions are known for facial pain:
The spinal column hosts the cranial nerves. Therefore, if a misalignment has occurred in the upper part of the neck, the nerves can be put under pressure. Irritation, compression, and distortion in this area hinder the way the body and brain communicate. This leads to a huge variety of health problems, including headaches and facial pain. If the nerve damage is not cared for, the headaches and pain will continue.
Here at Advanced Spinal Care in Redwood City, California, we use a gentle method to help the bones of the upper neck to realign. We do not have to turn to popping or cracking the neck to get the bones back in place. Rather, the technique we use encourages the bones to move into place more naturally. Once this is accomplished, patients see an improvement in their headaches and cranial neuralgia in almost all cases. Some patients see them go away and not return.
To schedule a complimentary consultation call our Redwood City office at 650-595-0500 You can also click the button below.
if you are outside of the local area you can find an Upper Cervical Doctor near you at www.uppercervicalawareness.com.
When you think of whiplash, you usually imagine someone in a car accident being hit from behind. It only takes a hit of 5 mph to cause whiplash to occur. Some people can run faster than that. This shows that whiplash can occur more often than most people realize. When the head moves in a motion like a whip moving back and forth, it can cause muscles to tear, ligaments to become damaged, and other tissues of the neck to be negatively affected. When you endure whiplash, you often miss work days to recover, leading to a loss of productivity, emotional repercussions, and, if not cared for properly, long-term disability.
There is no way to test for whiplash. It is diagnosed based on symptoms. This can make care difficult as most of the time the diagnosis is just an educated guess. Once you have endured whiplash, you may notice symptoms that were not present before the accident, including:
Typical care for whiplash starts with icing the injury and using NSAIDs to reduce inflammation and pain. While this helps at first, it is not a long-term fix. In order to find that, a good place to start is by visiting us here in our Redwood City, California office. We will examine your neck to find the extent of the damage. Usually, it involves the top two bones of the neck, the C1 and C2 vertebrae. If they misalign, the structure of the neck is compromised and the ability of the brain to communicate with the body can be hindered. This impacts the nervous system and can cause a number of serious health problems down the road.
To correct the problem in the neck, we use a gentle method based on scientific measurements and precise adjustments to specific areas of the neck. We do not have to pop or crack the neck to get the results we want. We encourage the bones of the neck to move back into place naturally, leading to a happier and healthier person overall.
To schedule a complimentary consultation call our Redwood City office at 650-595-0500 You can also click the button below.
if you are outside of the local area you can find an Upper Cervical Doctor near you at www.uppercervicalawareness.com.
