What causes headaches?
The easy answer is Stress…. Finding the cause of the stress that is causing your headache will require some investigation. Headaches can be caused by physical things like neck and back pain, joint dysfunction of the neck or jaw. Chemical things like changes in medication, hydration, oxygenation of tissue, lack of food or food sensitivities or allergies. It can also be emotional things like work stress, family or financial stress. Or all of the aforementioned.
What types of headaches are there?
Primary Headaches: Result from changes in blood vessels, muscle and nerves in head and neck
Secondary Headaches: Headache can be attributed to another cause. Another condition stimulates pain sensitive nerves in head. A wide range of different factors can cause secondary headaches.
These include:
- alcohol-induced hangover
- brain tumor
- blood clots
- bleeding in or around the brain
- brain freeze, or ice-cream headaches
- carbon monoxide poisoning
- concussion
- dehydration
- glaucoma
- hypertension
- teeth-grinding at night
- influenza
- overuse of pain medication
- panic attacks
- stroke
What’s the difference between a headache and a migraine?
A migraine
Intense Headache
Pulsating
Behind the eye
Aversion to light
Nausea/Vomiting
Changes in vision before headache
Can be triggered by
- Food
- Chemicals
- Smells
- Hormonal Changes
- Nutritional Deficiency
- Medications
- Stress
If its intense, pulsating throbbing, sensation mainly felt on one side of the head you may be experiencing a migraine
If its a mild dull pressure and the sensations are on the forehead or scalp you are more than likely experiencing a headache
What kind of treatments are available for headaches?
It depends on the cause. But because I am a chiropractor my role is to help you move better and live a more healthy, active life
So, I start my patients doing the basics right first
Breath better
Gentle Exercise
Sunshine
Water
Eat Well
Address biomechanical/neuromuscular issue in body
Then we go from there.