Headache
What is a headache?
What causes headaches?
Who gets headaches?
What is the difference between a headache and a migraine?
Is it normal to have headaches?
Where should I start?
Can Chiropractic provide relief for headaches?
What can trigger headaches to start?
What is a headache?
Basically, headache is localized or diffuse pain in the head or face that can sometimes include pain into the neck and upper back.
What causes headaches?
Headaches can be caused by numerous factors. The most common factor in headaches is muscular tension. As there are hundreds of small and large muscles that cover the entire surface of the head, it is not surprising these tight muscles can squeeze and compress the skull and cause Tension or Cervicogenic headaches.
A second cause of headaches would be Vascular or Neurologic. These types of headaches usually involve a decrease in blood to the brain or an increase in pressure on the blood vessels.
Third would be a metabolic or toxic type or origin. These types of headaches are caused by ingesting deficient or excessive quantities of certain nutrients. Medication inducted headaches would also fit into this category.
Who gets headaches?
57% of Men and 76% of women report at least one significant headache per month. (1)
What is the difference between a headache and a migraine?
The difference between a migraine and a headache is the symptoms of a migraine are more severe and usually incapacitating. The person may experience visual changes before the onset of the migraine. (Aura) It can last between a couple hours to a couple days. A migraine can also be associated with sensitivity to light or sound and be accompanied by nausea or vomiting.
Where should I start?
If you suffer from headaches (intermittent or chronic) the best thing to do is to make an appointment with health professional to determine the underlying cause of the episodes.
Is it normal to have headaches?
No, headaches are not normal they are always symptoms of an underlying problem.
Can Chiropractic provide relief for headaches?
If the headaches are being caused by improper position of the joints of the neck , Gentle Chiropractic adjustments have produced drastic reduction in the frequency and duration of the many different types of headaches.
What can trigger a headache to start?
There are many triggers of headache symptoms. Some of the most common reasons are listed below:
Posture – Poor posture can cause the improper positioning of the neck and head causing irritation to the cervical nerves and ultimately irritating the muscles that surround the head. It is these tight muscles that contract to create the symptoms of a tension headache.
Stress- Stress causes muscles to get tight by stimulating the sympathetic nervous system which causes the release of hormones.
Repetitive injury- Many jobs require the person to repeat a movement over and over or to hold a position for a long period of time. This can cause poor position of the neck and head ultimately leading to irritation of various nerves and muscles.
Teeth Grinding- The grinding of the teeth at night or the constant clenching of the jaw during the day can cause contracture or shortening of the muscles that move the jaw. This constant tension can cause jaw pain and eventually lead to tension or stress headaches.
Slips and falls (Trauma) Injuries to the head are sometimes taken too lightly. Anytime there is force imposed on the head or neck it should be taken seriously. Many times a slight fall or minor trauma to the head can cause irritation to the muscles and nerves.
Improper sleep position- Sleeping position is often missed as a cause of headaches. The average person sleeps between 6-8 hours. This means that they may be in one position for over 8 hours. If the neck and head are not supported correctly it can lead to muscle tightness and nerve irritation.
Diet Excesses or Deficiencies- The diet is also a possible source of muscle and nerve irritation in that substances like sugar and caffeine can over stimulate the nervous system and cause muscles to contract and remain partially contracted. Dehydration or lack of water intake can also be a common trigger for headaches.
1.CDC Prevalence of chronic migraines headaches: United States1980-1989.Morbid Mortal Weekly Rep.1991 40:331-338