Our Doc's Weekly eBrief: Headaches

Last week I talked about my recent attendance to a Chiropractic Teleconference by Dr. Karen Gardner Bagnell. During her lecture not only did she talk about back pain; which was the topic of last week’s e-brief, but she also talked about headaches that affect pregnant women and other patients as well.

According to Dr. Bagnell, the causes of many headaches including tension, sinus, and some types of migraines, can be traced to misalignment in the vertebrae of the neck. Headaches also are very common especially in the first trimester of pregnancy due to hormonal changes. Other causes of headaches can include: lack of sleep, low blood sugar, dehydration, caffeine withdrawal, clenching of the jaw and stress (too many changes). If pregnant women experience headaches during the third trimester, this tends to be related more to poor posture and tension from carrying extra weight. Be aware however, that headaches after 28 weeks may also be caused by pre-eclampsia, and some of the signs of that are high blood pressure and swollen ankles. This is serious and must be dealt with immediately.

So what can be done if one suffers from Tension Headaches? Chiropractic alignment of the neck along with massage, moist heat, chamomile tea (as long as one is not allergic to ragweed), using lavender essential oil (in moderation), a homeopathic remedy called Byronia alba and meditation all are recommended by Dr. Karen Gardner Bagnell. I would add acupuncture, cranial sacral therapy and to check for foods that may trigger headaches. Magnesium supplementation can be quite helpful too.

What can one do if one suffers from sinus Sinus Headaches? The second vertebrae in the neck should be checked by one’s chiropractor (as this nerve pathway effects the sinuses and inner ear). One can also massage the sinuses and should consider the use of a Neti Pot. I would add acupuncture and checking one’s diet to see if certain foods make the sinuses more congested. Outdoor allergies may also be the cause. Since foods, allergens and stress may be triggers for headaches, I also have used the biofeedback system of the BAX-3000 to help reduce the effects that foods, outdoor allergens and stress have on headaches.

Headaches can be quite debilitating so the more drug free remedies that one can use, especially during pregnancy, the better.

In health and happiness,
Dr. Liselotte Schuster
(847)509-9067