Headaches are very prevalent around the world, impacting nearly 46% of adults internationally. Headaches can be extremely challenging to deal with, and it can be even more difficult to find a solution that provides long-term results. Patients are not the only ones frustrated by this. Doctors struggle to find solutions too. Prescription drugs can bring relief once the headaches are already happening, but they will keep happening until the underlying problem is dealt with. What is the root cause for some of these headaches? Later in this article we will share what some possibilities are and a way to care for headaches outside of medication use. The first thing we will do is investigate more about headaches and discuss their different types.
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Surprising Facts About Headaches
- The economic cost of headaches is conservatively listed at $31 billion per year in the United States.
- Upwards of 4% of adults worldwide suffer from a headache or a migraine for more than 15 days in a month.
- Of the individuals who experience cluster headaches, 55% also have suicidal thoughts.
- Each year a shocking 5.2 million emergency room visits are blamed on headaches.
- Tension headaches are the second most common illness worldwide.
- The average amount of time it takes for people with cluster headaches to get a proper diagnosis is 5 years.
- Migraines are the seventh-highest reason for disability worldwide, and it is one of the most disabling neurological conditions out there.
- Headaches are generally harmless, but they have great effects on quality of life.
- In ancient times, Greeks and Romans used peppermint tea to care for headaches. They also drank infusions of chamomile, rosemary, and lavender. Another popular method of relieving the head pain was done by applying raw potato, cabbage, and onion.
- Fasting can lead to headaches because of drops in blood sugar levels. Other common triggers are stress, noise, flashing lights, certain foods, pollution, and smoke.
- Certain poor lifestyle choices can increase the number of headaches you get. Avoiding habits like heavy smoking or drinking, and doing healthy habits like getting sufficient sleep, exercising daily, and eating healthy will help lower your chances of getting frequent headaches.
- Ice cream headaches are a real thing. They happen when eating cold foods or drinks causes the blood vessels to spasm, interrupting blood flow and causing the vessels to swell.
More on Headaches
Headaches are able to affect any area of the head – both sides or just one location. They can radiate across the head beginning from one central spot, or the sensation may be more like a vise is squeezing the head. The characteristics of a headache can range from sharp, dull, throbbing, or pounding. They can happen gradually or appear all of a sudden with a duration varying from less than an hour or up to several days.
The International Headache Society describes headaches under two separate categories:
- Primary headaches: These are individual cases caused by problems with or over-activity of the pain-sensitive structures in the head, including muscles, blood vessels, and nerves of the neck and head. Another possible cause is chemical activity in the brain, usually resulting in migraines, tension headaches, or cluster headaches.
- Secondary headaches: These are triggered by another condition that irritates the pain-sensitive nerves of the head causing headache symptoms. This can include the following causes:
- Concussion
- Brain freeze (ice cream headache)
- Brain tumor
- Bleeding around or in the brain
- Alcohol-induced hangover
- Blood clots
- Glaucoma
- Stroke
- Influenza
- Dehydration
- Grinding your teeth at night
- Panic attacks
- Carbon monoxide poisoning
- Rebound or medication overuse headaches
In general, headaches are harmless. However, there are a few reasons that headaches could be dangerous. It is recommended to contact your doctor immediately if your headaches are:
- Different than normal – more severe, more persistent, or more regular
- More painful and disruptive
- Do not improve with medication
- Accompanied by confusion, fever, stiffness in the neck, or sensory changes
Types of Headaches
- Tension headaches: These headaches can either be episodic or chronic. Episodic attacks range in their duration as they could last a few hours or can go on for a few days. Chronic attacks happen for 15 days out of a month, for a subsequent 3 months.
- Migraines: These are a neurological condition, with the main symptom being throbbing and pounding head pain that usually stays on one side only. Other symptoms include visual disturbances; nausea and vomiting; light, sound, and odor sensitivity; and dizziness. These can take a few hours or 2 to 3 days to subside.
- Rebound headaches: These headaches are actually caused by the overuse of the medication intended to prevent headaches. Usually they start early in the day and continue throughout the day. While they may taper off with the help of pain medication, they will increase in severity once the medication wears off.
- Cluster headaches: Lasting anywhere from 15 minutes to 3 hours, these headaches appear suddenly and can reoccur up to 8 times a day for weeks or months. Typically, it is experienced as one-sided, severe head pain that feels like burning or sharp pain, usually located around one eye. This eye will often become red and swollen, the eyelid may droop, and the nose may become runny or stuffy.
Headache Relief You Can Rely On
A connection has been established between frequent headaches, like the kinds listed above, and a misalignment in the bones of the upper neck. When a misalignment happens in this area of the upper spine, it places unusual pressure on the brainstem, leading to the sending of improper signals to the brain. This can also irritate the nerves, making it the perfect scenario for headaches to develop.
To correct these types of misalignments, we use a gentle method that helps the bones of the upper neck to realign without the need for popping or cracking the spine at all. As soon as the misalignment is corrected, this initiates the body’s natural ability to repair the damage done. Many of our patients report dramatic improvements in their headache symptoms. If you are struggling to find headache relief that impresses you, give us a call so we can talk further about how we can help you.
To schedule a consultation with Upper Cervical Chiropractic San Diego, call 858-434-5926 or just click the button below.
If you are outside of the local area you can find an Upper Cervical Doctor near you at www.uppercervicalawareness.com.
