Headaches can be caused by a wide variety of triggers, ranging from environmental stressors and lifestyle issues to medical conditions and underlying physical issues. Common environmental and lifestyle causes of headaches include sleep deprivation, hunger, dehydration, eyestrain, smoking or exposure to cigarette smoke, alcohol use, or exposure to strong smells such as perfumes or cleaning products.

Certain medications, including over-the-counter pain relievers like ibuprofen and acetaminophen (Tylenol) may also cause headaches in some people. Additionally, stress is one of the most common causes of tension headaches. Stress can manifest itself in physical ways which can lead to the development of a headache if left unchecked.

Other psychological issues such as anxiety or depression can also trigger chronic headaches even if the underlying issue is not directly related to tension. In addition to these everyday stressors, there are other physical factors that can contribute to head pain such as cervical spine misalignment due to poor posture or neck trauma/injury.

In rare cases neck misalignment can cause an alteration in blood flow resulting in vascular headaches such as migraines or cluster headaches. Inflammation from infection or sinusitis may also result in headache symptoms.

Finally, certain neurological disorders like Parkinson's Disease and Multiple Sclerosis are often associated with chronic headache pain due to their impact on nerve pathways throughout the body.

If you’re interested in learning more about Chiropractic, let us at First Steps Chiropractic lead the way. We utilize state-of-the-art technology and tools that enable us to treat our patients in the best way possible!

We enjoy serving the Coeur d’Alene area, and patients in the surrounding communities live more aligned and balanced lives. So schedule your appointment today to get started on this new journey!