Headache Doctor Chapel Hill, NC

Headache Doctor In Chapel Hill, NC

Headache Doctor Chapel Hill, NC

If you live in Chapel Hill, North Carolina and are suffering from migraines, our headache doctor at Acupractic Natural Healing Center may be able to relieve your pain. Dr. Lisa Oskardmay is a Doctor of Chiropractic and a licensed acupuncturist. Dr. Oskardmay has helped many patients who felt occasional or chronic headaches. Call us today to schedule an exam to find out how she may be able to help you too. As a respected and longtime headache doctor in Chapel Hill, NC, Dr. Oskardmay offers non-surgical treatment without the use of prescription medications. So-called `alternative medicine` treatments such as chiropractic and acupuncture are now used by millions for natural lasting relief that harnesses your body’s healing response.

How Chiropractic Care Can Help With Your Headaches

Getting an occasional headache is not uncommon. You may be around an allergen that is bothering you, you may be dealing with stress at work, or you may have had a little too much to drink the night before. However, getting frequent headaches or migraines can not only be painful, but it can be a sign that there are other problems in your body. When this is the case, you should seek help from a headache doctor in Chapel Hill, NC from Acupractic Natural Healing Center as soon as possible to discuss your symptoms, when your headaches occur, and what kind of treatment options they may have. It is important that you do not neglect your headache symptoms, but instead find a way to begin treating the problem at its source. See how a chiropractor from our office can help you with your headaches or migraines today.

What kinds of techniques might a chiropractor use?

Chiropractic care involves many different types of techniques from passive and active exercises to massages, electro-stimulation, and even spinal manipulation. When you see your headache doctor in Chapel Hill, NC, it is important to be open and honest with them about any other symptoms you may have in addition to your headaches or migraines so they can help you understand what the underlying cause may be.

Types of Head Pain

There are different types of head pain that your chiropractor can help treat, including headaches and migraines.

Headaches. There are many different types of headaches that you may experience on a regular basis including stress headaches, tension headaches, and cervicogenic headaches. When you suffer from any of these, you may feel pain on just one side of your head or both sides. When this is the case, your head pain could be stemming from some type of injury in your neck. This type of pain can be treated with:

  • Spinal Manipulation. Your Chapel Hill, NC headache doctor will use some amount of force, either with their hands or a special device, to re-adjust your spine.
  • Joint Mobilization. Your chiropractor may try to gently move your joints to improve your range of motion and reduce pain leading from your neck to your head.

Migraines. Many migraines may start off as headaches, but they are much more severe. They typically also include additional symptoms like nausea, dizziness, fatigue, and a sensitivity to lights or sounds. Because of this, many people who suffer from migraines can be completely debilitated. Common ways a chiropractor can help you with your migraines are:

  • Massages. Different massage techniques on trigger points in your neck, shoulders, and back can help with your migraine symptoms.
  • A Combination of Care. Because of how severe migraines can be, your chiropractor may opt for a combination of different chiropractic techniques, like massages, physical therapy, stress management, and even dietary changes.

How You Can Prepare

Before you see your headache doctor in Chapel Hill, NC, be sure to come with your full medical history as well as your family’s medical history. This can ensure they have the necessary background information to help determine what may be causing your headaches or migraines.

For more information on how chiropractic care can help with your headaches or migraines, please reach out to Acupractic Natural Healing Center.

Common Causes of Headaches

Causes of headaches are often referred to as “triggers.” As a headache doctor in Chapel Hill, NC might tell you, what triggers a headache for one person, may not have the same effect on another. Some of the most common headache triggers include:

  • An environmental stimulus or circumstance such as noise, light, stress, blood sugar change, excessive exercise, insomnia, etc.
  • Misalignment of the spinal column or other areas of the body
  • Eye strain
  • Sleeping, sitting or standing posture
  • Muscle tension or joint irritation in the neck, back, or other areas of the body

How a Headache Doctor in Chapel Hill, NC Can Make a Difference

Chiropractors recognize the importance of proper neck posture and vertebral motion regarding headache treatment and prevention. The cervical spine is a series of seven bony vertebral units with eight cervical nerves emanating from them. The eight cervical nerves and associated ganglia are responsible for conducting nerve energy from the spinal cord to the head, neck, shoulders, diaphragm, lungs, heart, and other important areas such as the trachea and thyroid gland. Irritation of the nerves arising from the neck due to misalignment of the vertebrae, foraminal encroachment or even muscle tightness can affect the functioning of these important nerves creating stress and malfunction in the body. A headache can be an indication that a subluxation exists that needs correction. Muscle tightness in the suboccipital region resulting from vertebral subluxation in the upper cervical region will produce tightness in that region and affect brain function. Muscle tightness in the sternocleidomastoid muscles on the sides of the neck will affect vertebral motion, nerve flow of nerves c3456, and can affect blood flow to the brain. Irritation o the lower cervical region at the transition between the cervical and thoracic spine levels will affect shoulder muscle tightness and arm function. Chiropractors recognize the need for proper cervical and thoracic spine motion and health and take steps to diagnose and treat problems in the neck that can contribute to headaches.

Many people today spend a lot of time with their heads bent forward because they use this position to type on computers and cell phones. This position of increased cervical lordosis has serious health implications and can cause headaches, in addition to other health concerns.  The resultant neck pain indicates the presence of inflammation in the muscles and cervical vertebrae- a harbinger for future damage. Lingering inflammation at any joint will result in joint destruction and nerve impairment; in the neck, it will also result in headaches. Your chiropractic physician will diagnose and treat the cervical subluxation before it interferes with your health in other ways, and help improve posture with spinal adjustments and home exercises.

Dr.Oskardmay and her team at Acupractic Natural Healing Center offers a variety of effective treatments that are specific to a patient’s condition. With more than two decades of experience as a headache doctor in Chapel Hill, NC, she offers solutions that address a patient’s unique health concerns. After a thorough exam, Dr. Oskardmay may determine that one or more of the following treatments will be the optimum approach for a patient suffering from a primary headache:

  • Provide a chiropractic adjustment or spinal manipulation to alleviate stress on the patient’s system by improving spinal function.
  • Perform acupuncture therapy on one or more meridians or channels to harness the body’s natural healing potential
  • Provide diet and nutrition guidance with suggestions for improving the patient’s nutrition intake, overall diet, and the addition of specific vitamins and other non-prescription medication supplements.
  • Provide guidance for improving posture as well as relaxation techniques, specific exercises, and ergonomic approaches for daily routines (including sitting at a desk). Dr. Oskardmay uses ‘Posture Pro’ and other techniques to help you make the most of your sitting and standing postures to reduce neck pain and headaches.

As you can tell, a chiropractor can help reduce headache pain in many ways. They will also work with your medical doctor or other health practitioners to help you get the care you need.

Make an Appointment Today

If you suffer from headaches, there may be a painless, drug-free solution that does not require surgery or complicated procedures. Acupractic Natural Healing Center has successfully treated many patients in the Chapel Hill community who lived with chronic pain for far too long. Contact us today to make an appointment with Dr. Oskardmay—a headache doctor in Chapel Hill, NC who truly cares about her patients.

Nutrition and Migraines

If you suffer from migraine headaches, you know how depilating they can be. Many migraine sufferers are unable to work, unable to participate in their daily activities when the headaches hit. Treatment for headaches usually consist of heavy painkillers or over-the-counter medications that end up causing rebound headaches.

But many migraine sufferers find that working with a Chapel Hill, NC headache doctor and making dietary changes can help alleviate the headaches and, in many cases, eliminate them. The following are some steps you can take if you suffer from these terrible headaches. For a more detailed and personalized nutritional plan for your specific needs, call Acupractic Natural Healing Center to meet with one of our headache doctors.

The first thing that needs to be addressed for a migraine sufferer is eliminating the painkillers and medications they take for the headaches. Sufferers should speak with their doctors about stopping the use of narcotic painkillers for their headaches because of rebounding. Many over-the-counter medications contain caffeine which only offer temporary relief, but then trigger another migraine because of that caffeine. This can turn into what feels like a never-ending cycle.

And speaking of caffeine, if you suffer from migraines, you should eliminate all caffeine from your diet because it triggers the headaches. Even decaffeinated versions of coffee and tea have chemicals that can trigger headaches. Herbal teas are a safe alternative.

Alcohol, especially wines, are also triggers for migraines and headaches, so they should also be avoided. Chocolate, too. And if you drink diet sodas, protein bars, and other food or beverages that have artificial sweeteners, you should eliminate those choices. A Chapel Hill NC headache doctor will also likely recommend that anything with aspartame, sucralose, and saccharin should be avoided.

Foods with monosodium glutamate (MSG) should also be cut from your diet, as should dairy products, peanuts, tree nuts, bananas, citrus fruits, onion, yeast breads, and soy products.  

Drinking at least 64 ounces of fluids every day will help prevent headaches. Hydrate even more if you are engaging in heavy physical activity or exercising. Making sure to have something to eat, even if just a snack, every four to five hours, otherwise blood glucose levels can drop and trigger a headache. You should also be getting seven to nine hours of sleep every night.

Let a Chapel Hill, NC Headache Doctor Help

There are many types of symptoms and conditions people suffer that could be alleviated with the help of proper nutrition. If you are dealing with migraines of other health issues, changes in your diet can bring relief.  

If you are suffering from chronic pain or other health conditions that you cannot find relief from, or just want to begin a healthier way of living, call Acupractic Natural Healing Center today to schedule a visit with a Chapel Hill, NC headache doctor patients recommend.

Serving the communities of Chapel Hill, Carrboro, Durham, Hillsborough, and the rest of the NC Triangle

205 Providence Rd. Chapel Hill NC 27514 | Phone: (919) 929-1400

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