Most people have had experienced a headache at some point in their lives. For some, this can occur many times. Headaches are a widespread disorder.
What is a headache?
Headache is a pain on one or both sides of the head, this pain can include the face, neck, or even shoulders, and it can come with a variety of symptoms. Headaches can go from minor pain to severe pain, can develop suddenly or gradually, and can last less than an hour or several days. The pain felt during a headache may be isolated to a specific area, like the forehead or the upper part of the neck, or can be felt throughout the head and even in different parts of the head at the same time.
There are different types of headaches, each with a different set of symptoms caused by a specific reason and various treatments needed. As a result, there are over 100 types of headaches, and their causes are also very varied and change from person to person.
The most common types of headaches are Migraine and Tension headaches. Tension headaches are caused by the tightening of the head and neck muscles. On the other hand, migraine is caused by hypersensitive nerve endings. But what triggers the causes of a headache?
Causes
Headaches may stem from many factors or combinations of factors that will be unique for each individual. Commonly, Tension headaches can be triggered by stress. However, other factors include fatigue, lack of sleep, weather changes, caffeine withdrawal due to abrupt cessation of medications that contain caffeine, and hunger, among others. Therefore, stress, lack of sleep, and fatigue can also trigger migraine headaches. However, some symptoms may be indications of a serious illness or a life-threatening condition. Therefore, headaches are classified by causes.
Primary Headaches
According to the Mayo Clinic website, “A primary headache is caused by overactivity of or problems with pain-sensitive structures in your head.” Primary headaches do not represent the symptom of any disease; they are the condition itself. Cluster headaches, tension, and migraines are among the most common examples of this classification. The causes that trigger primary headaches are lifestyle factors such as poor posture, stress, or lack of sleep.
Secondary Headaches
This classification includes those headaches considered symptoms of a disease, being the disease the one to activate the nerves located in the head, responsible for registering the pain. Conditions as common as acute sinusitis, dehydration, Hangovers, and Ice cream headaches (brain freeze), can cause secondary headaches. However, some conditions can be more serious and require emergency care like Concussion, neuralgias (involving irritation of specific nerves connecting the face and brain), Meningitis, and High blood pressure (hypertension) are some of the most common.
Treatments and prevention
Preventing headaches is much easier once you have identified the classification and what factors trigger this situation. Paying attention to any changes in your environment, the food you eat, and any activity that can result in headache discomfort. Taking notes of sleeping patterns, medication, stress levels, and physical problems will help you avoid the causes and identify patterns or circumstances surrounding your headaches. Although most episodes of discomfort can be treated with over-the-counter medications, it is recommended to talk to your doctor in order to get your headaches diagnosed correctly and follow the proper treatment for your condition.
In some cases, although Primary headaches, medication treatments can only offer temporary relief of the pain. Migraine is the most common type of headache, and the treatment relies almost exclusively on pharmaceutical methods. When exposed to high levels of stress or even bad posture, migraines will be a constant issue.
Noninvasive treatments are a wonderful alternative to this ailment because they attack the very source of the headaches in cases where poor spine support of the head, bad posture, or stress are the causes of head pain. Non-surgical Spinal Decompression helps by gently stretching your spine, improving spinal balance and function and, alleviating the symptoms of chronic headaches, returning natural balance to the body.
