What Causes Headaches?
Headaches can be caused by a wide variety of factors. For a start, tension headaches can be caused by muscle pain or a bad case of temporomandibular joint pain (TMJ), while migraines can be triggered by anything from hormones to environmental factors to genetics. Sinusitis, rhinitis, and hay fever are also common causes of headaches, especially in the spring months.
Headaches may be a one-off issue for some, while for others the pain may be chronic, recurring for months and even years. The intensity of pain experienced also differs from individual to individual.
What Is Laser Therapy?
Laser therapy, or cold laser therapy, involves placing a laser over the affected area to heal it. Photons of light in the laser beam help to accelerate the body’s natural healing processes, thereby providing relief from whatever ailment was causing discomfort. In fact, laser therapy is already being used to treat conditions such as acne and endometriosis with high success rates and minimal discomfort.
How Does Laser Therapy Work?
Depending on what is causing the headache, laser therapy can serve a variety of purposes. For headaches caused by injuries such as whiplash,laser therapy can help to heal the injured area by promoting cellular repair, thus eliminating the cause of the headache over the long term.
Laser therapy helps to improve microcirculation and blood flow in the body, in the process increasing the levels of serotonin (a chemical naturally produced in the bloodstream that creates a feel-good sensation), releasing endogenous opioids (natural pain-relieving chemicals that the body produces) and balancing cholinesterase levels (enzymes that are required for the nervous system to function properly). You will need to work out a treatment plan with your treatment provider to determine the number, duration and frequency of sessions needed, as these differ from person to person depending on the cause and severity of the headaches.
Laser Therapy For Headache Relief
Laser therapy for headache relief is safe, effective, and painless. The non-invasive therapy can be used to treat headaches regardless of cause and has been shown to have lasting effects. Studies have also shown that a significant number of headache sufferers experience pain relief from their symptoms within weeks of receiving laser therapy.
