Headaches are incredibly common and affect nearly 45 million Americans each year. That's about one in every six people. Unfortunately, most people turn to medication for temporary pain relief. Studies have shown that pain medication can cause adverse effects and kidney or liver. Worse yet, they don't even correct the underlying cause of the headache.

Fortunately, there are holistic options such as chiropractic and acupuncture that focus on the root cause of your pain, not just the pain itself. The goal is to not only treat the pain associated with the headaches, but also discover the cause and fix it.

It is important to understand which type of headache you are suffering from, especially when it comes to choosing a form of treatment plan. Here are the most common types of headaches:

* Tension headaches are the most common; affecting nearly 75 percent of headache suffers. Tension headaches typically last from 30 minutes to several days, and in some cases, chronic tension headaches can last for months.

* Migraine headaches are intense and throbbing headaches that are often associated with nausea and sensitivity to light and/or noise. These headaches can last from as little as a few hours to as long as a few days.

* Cluster headaches are a type of headache is often short in duration, is very painful and often felt on one side of the head behind the eyes. The reason that they are called cluster headaches is that they tend to occur one to four times per day, over a period of several days. After one cluster of headaches is over, it may be months or even years before they occur again.

Each case is different and requires a thorough evaluation before a proper course of care can be determined. However, in many cases of headaches, significant improvement is accomplished through chiropractic adjustments to the upper vertebrae of the neck. When the vertebrae in your neck are unable to move properly, it irritates or puts pressure on the nerves in that area. This irritation can cause headaches. Acupuncture can also provide significant relief for those who suffer from headaches, especially migraines.

Dr. Wendy Cunningham is a doctor of chiropractic, certified acupuncturist and has her master's degree in nutrition. For more information, contact Dr. Wendy at haydenhealth@gmail.com.