Types of Headaches

Learn about the most common types of headaches, their causes, and natural, drug-free treatment options that can help make them go away.

• Cervical Origin Headaches
  Pain that originates from the neck due to things as subluxations, muscle spasms, and nerve irritation.
• Tension Headaches
  Pain that comes from irritated or inflamed soft tissues of the neck and head, primarily muscles, nerve endings and their connective tissues that can develop into trigger points ("knots").
• Vascular Headaches
  Produced by an irritation and inflammation of the blood vessels of the brain, typically caused by a variety of diseases (fevers, drugs, poisons, toxins, altered pH, nerve irritation, hormone imbalance).
• Migraine Headaches
  Typically caused by a complex interaction between the nervous system, the hormonal system, and the affected vascular segment. Many times preceded by a "warning signal" such as nausea, visual or speech disturbance, numbness, and/or dizziness.
• Cluster Headaches
  Called cluster headaches because the headaches come in groups. Pain generally lasts from 30-45 minutes, but can persist for up to several hours. Most sufferers experience one to four headaches a day during a cluster period.
• Organic Headaches
  Includes the following; sinus headache, hangover headache, allergy headache, caffeine withdrawal headache, pregnancy headaches, hypertension (high blood pressure) headaches, TMJ (jaw) dysfunction, reading headaches, hypoglycemic (low blood sugar) headaches. May also be due to tumors, brain aneurysm, hematoma, meningitis, brain abscess, etc.

Three Most Frequent Types of Headaches

Tension Headaches

“Tension headaches are the most common types of headaches, affecting upwards of 75% of headache sufferers. Most people describe tension headaches as a constant dull, achy feeling either on one side or both sides of the head, often described as a feeling of a tight band or dull ache around the head or behind the eyes. Tension headaches, or stress headaches, can last from 30 minutes to several days. In some cases, chronic tension headaches may persist for many months. Although the pain at times can be severe, tension headaches are usually not associated with other symptoms, such as nausea, throbbing or vomiting.

The most common cause of tension headaches are subluxations in the upper back and neck, especially the upper neck. When the top cervical vertebrae lose their normal motion or position, a small muscle called the rectus capitis posterior minor (RCPM) muscle goes into spasm. The problem is that this small muscle has a tendon which slips between the upper neck and the base of the skull and attaches to a thin pain-sensitive tissue called the dura mater that covers the brain. Although the brain itself has no feeling, the dura mater is very pain-sensitive. Consequently, when the RCPM muscle goes into spasm and its tendon tugs at the dura mater, a headache occurs. People who hold desk jobs will tend to suffer from headaches for this reason.”

Migraine Headaches

“Each year, about 25 million people in the U.S. experience migraine headaches, and about 75% of those individuals are women. Migraines are intense and throbbing headaches that are often associated with nausea and sensitivity to light or noise. They can last from as little as a few hours to as long as a few days. Migraine sufferers usually have their first attack before age 30 and they tend to run in families; supporting the notion that there is a genetic component to them. Some people have attacks several times a month, while others have less than one a year. Migraines are caused by a constriction of the blood vessels in the brain, followed by a dilation of blood vessels. During the constriction of the blood vessels there is a decrease in blood flow, which is what leads to the visual symptoms that many people experience.

Even in people who don't experience the classic migraine aura, most of them can tell that an attack is immanent. Once the blood vessels dilate, there is a rapid increase in blood pressure inside the head. It is this increased pressure that leads to the pounding headache. Each time the heart beats it sends another shock wave through the carotid arteries in the neck up into the brain. There are many theories about why the blood vessels constrict in the first place, but no one knows for sure. What we do know is that there are a number of things that can trigger migraines, such as lack of sleep, stress, flickering lights, strong odors, changing weather patterns and several foods; especially foods that are high in an amino acid called ‘tyramine'.”

Cluster Headaches

“Cluster headaches are typically short in duration, excruciating, and are usually felt on one side of the head behind the eyes. Cluster headaches affect about 1 million people in the United States and, unlike migraines, are much more common in men than women. This is the only type of headache that tends to occur at night. 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. Like migraines, cluster headaches are likely to be related to a dilation of the blood vessels in the brain, causing a localized increase in pressure.”

Treatment

As you can see, if is very important do a thorough evaluation so headache patients can be properly managed. Treatment approaches include:

1. Adjustments

2. Soft tissue therapy

3. Posture correction exercises and other exercises

4. Education about job modifications

5. Co-management with other health care providers, if medication or injection therapy is needed.

Headache treatment depends on what caused it. A headache arising from visual problems can often be cured by eyeglasses. An infection headache of the sinuses or ears is relieved when the infection subsides. But the most common headaches are usually treated with painkillers...Yikes!

Millions of headache sufferers are turning to the chiropractic and massage approach to health. Chiropractors are the only health professionals who are trained to analyze and correct the vertebral subluxation complex.

Massage therapy addresses tension headaches by relaxing the neck, shoulders, and upper back. As we relax, we soften our muscles and headaches disappear. Tension headaches are the easiest headaches to address. Sinus headaches are best addressed by face massage, as the sinus cavities become relaxed, the fluids that are trapped in these spaces release and begin to flow.

Migraine headaches can be caused by either impingement of the nerves in the neck or by chemical imbalances. Massage can address the impinged nerve problem by releasing the Levator Scapulae Muscles and other neck musculature.

Are you suffering from one of the aformentioned types of headaches/migraines? Let us help you get pain relief by calling us at %CLIENT_PHONE%.