Headaches are one of the most common ailments in the world today. According to some estimates, as much as 46% of adults suffer from headaches. However, you may be surprised to learn that headache problems are on the rise for the younger generation. In fact, The American Migraine Foundation believes that up to 60% of kids will occasionally battle a headache.
A Study Involving Headaches in Children
The Nationwide Children’s Hospital performed research involving headaches experienced by kids between the ages of 5 and 18. They discovered that headaches are often more prevalent during the Fall months at the start of the school year. What causes the increase during this time period? Some of the proposed theories include:
- Increased caffeine consumption
- Missed meals
- Stress
- Schedule changes
- Reduced sleep
- Dehydration
- Mobile device usage
- Extracurricular activities
Kids need to be able to perform their best at school, and headaches can make that difficult. What can be done to curb headaches?
Upper Cervical Chiropractic for Headaches
Young and old alike can benefit from a safe and effective way to get help. Upper cervical chiropractic care attacks an underlying cause of many headache conditions—a misalignment of the atlas (C1). When the atlas is misaligned, blood flow to the brain may be reduced, and cerebrospinal fluid drainage can be inhibited. Pressure may be placed on the brainstem. Any of these conditions can produce headaches.
How can a kid end up with such a misalignment? Because this bone is very mobile (it facilitates about half the range of motion of the head), it is the most likely to misalign. It can occur during head or neck trauma, but also due to repetitive strain such as when looking down at a mobile device dozens of times per day.
Because Atlas Orthogonal chiropractic involves very gentle adjustments, it is appropriate for those of any age. To learn more about whether Atlas Orthogonal is the best option for you and your family, come and see us at Sooley Chiropractic Health Center.