Headaches! We can help
If you are someone who experiences frequent headaches or migraines, my heart goes out to you. I know that this kind of pain is often debilitating and can really get in the way of you living your life to the fullest. But we have some good news for you, many headache or migraine can be helped and often easier to treat than you think!
Headache or Migraine: What’s the difference?
Headaches present as pain in the head, face, and upper neck. They can vary in intensity and frequency. If you are experiencing a migraine, you are likely feeling a throbbing pain or pulsing sensation which is usually on the side of your head. A migraine can also cause nausea, vomiting and sensitivity to light and sound. In some cases, they can cause facial numbness and weakness, which can be pretty scary.
What causes headaches?
Generally, there are four types of headaches:
· Headaches originating from the nerves or muscles of the neck.
· Tension headaches
· Sinus headaches
· Cluster headaches
Headaches originating from the nerves or muscles of the neck often start from the neck or base of the head, but they can also radiate over the eyes or forehead. They are usually caused by tight muscles referring pain to the head or one of the top three nerves in the neck being irritated. These nerves go around the head and can be irritated when joints in the neck stop moving and become inflamed.
Tension headaches tend to spread across both sides of your head, starting at the back and creeping forward. Tension headaches can be caused by eyestrain, stress and even hunger.
Sinus headaches usually strike when we have a cold and are congested. They are caused by a swelling and blockages in the sinus passages, which ends up as pain in the head, cheeks, nose, and eyes. The pain is usually worse when you wake up in the morning or bend forward due to movement of trapped fluid.
Cluster headaches are a severe type of headache, which can be very debilitating. They are rare and often begin quickly without any warning. Pain is very severe and has been described as being like an ice-pick being hit into the head. They are often linked with altered brain activity, but the cause is still unclear. These types of headaches often require specialist treatment and medication.
Tell me more about migraines…
Migraines can be caused by a variety of things. Mostly it is a combination of factors that cause the nervous system to be overstimulated, resulting in a shutdown of the system. Often this results in a sensitivity to loud noises and light as these stimulate the nervous system further. Stimulus includes:
· Hormonal changes.
· Stress and emotional distress, particularly when your body goes into fight or flight mode.
· Drinks that contain alcohol and caffeine (Sorry folks!)
· Intense physical activity.
· Medications.
· Diet: common culprits are aged cheeses, processed foods, and food additives.
· Nerve irritation in the neck.
Usually, migraines are caused by a combination of the above.
There’s hope!
At Inspired Health Chiropractic & Wellbeing Centre, we assess you to look at the causes of your headaches and put a plan together to help you. Typically, we help with headaches related to nerve and muscle problems, tension, and migraines by reducing nerve irritation, muscle tension and working together to remove the underlying triggers. We also put a bespoke plan in place to prevent them from happening in the future. We would support you getting help for sinus and cluster type headaches as these require specialist treatment.
Other ways we can help is to encourage you to chill through techniques like massage and stress management through empowerment.
