Headache Types
Headache Types
When you experience a headache, you may feel pain in various areas of your head and in your face or neck. You might experience head pain every now and then, or you might get head pain very often, which is referred to as chronic headaches. The pain that you can experience during a headache can range from mild to severe and it can hinder your ability to participate in daily activities. Symptoms you might experience during a headache besides pain can include sleeping issues, sensitivity to sound and light, and nausea. There are several types of headaches, but there is one thing that they all have in common, they hurt. Within the base of your neck, where it meets your head, exists a large system of nerves, blood vessels, and tissues and when any of these are irritated you feel it. Millions of people around the world feel the effects of head pain every day, but you shouldn’t have to be one of them.
Types of Head Pain
Five types of head pain exist –these include sinus head pain, pregnancy and hormone induced head pain, tension head pain, cluster headaches, and migraines.
- Sinus Headaches are caused by blockages within the sinuses. The sinuses are a set of cavities that exists within the face between the nose and forehead. When you experience a sinus infections or another sickness that causes drainage buildup within the nose, these cavities can become inflamed and blocked and cause pain. Additionally swelling of the face and fevers can accompany a sinus headache.
- Pregnancy Headaches usually happen within the first and third trimesters. These headaches could also be categorized as migraine or tension headaches. For those who have experienced these types of headaches before pregnancy, experiences with pregnancy headaches can be different. Some women believe that their symptoms improve and the intensity of their pain is milder when pregnant.
- Tension Headaches can make you feel like there is a tight band that wraps around your head. Women are more prone to this type of head pain vs men, however, tension headaches are the most common type of headache and fatigue might accompany this pain. It is unknown what causes tension headaches but there are so common they account for up to 75% of all of the frequent headaches and they can extend from anywhere to 30 minutes up to a week in duration.
- Cluster Headaches cause pain of the sides of the head and a pressure behind the eyes. This head pain is occurs more in women than in men and only affects about 1% of the population. When pain beings, there aren’t any signs that it is coming and some find it to be excruciating in intensity – sometimes more intense than migraine pain. Nasal congestion and eye irritation might occur along with your head pain and the pain may last anywhere from 15 minutes up to three+ hours. Also with this type of head pain, the headache might come back multiple times in the same day. The period of time that you can experience cluster headaches can last several weeks at a time with months or years extending between cluster periods.
- Migraine Headaches usually only cause you to feel pain on one side of your head. Some people describe this pain as a throbbing or pulsing with such a severe intensity that it is debilitating. Other symptoms that may accompany this type of head pain can include sound or light sensitivity, vomiting or nausea, and sensitivity to smell. These headaches can be reoccurring and can last anywhere from four hours up to three days in length.
Head Pain Treatments
Each type of head pain has a treatment that is best for that type of pain, however, when consulting with a medical professional, they usually choose the same treatment option for all headache types. Over the counter pain relievers is the most common treatment used to treat head pain, unfortunately, this treatment doesn’t address the cause of the pain. In regards to pregnancy head pain, there are a limited number of treatment options that can be used to relieve pain while trying to keep in mind the health and safety of the baby. For those who are suffering from chronic head pain, it is unsure if all treatments will work for each individual.
The usual treatment options are used as a preventive measure. The goal with this type of treatment is prevent the head pain from starting, not to relieve the pain once it has begun. The trouble with these treatment options is that they merely address the symptoms of your pain and ignore the cause of your pain. If you are feeling discouraged about finding relief from your head pain, don’t worry, there is a better treatment option out there. Chiropractic care has provided pain relief for many without the use of medications.
Chiropractic Care for Your Head Pain
Chiropractors are licensed and highly trained professionals that have experience treating head pain without the use of medications or surgery. How do they do this? Chiropractors are trained to use their hands and special tools to locate and repair and places within the spine that may be out of alignment. These misalignments might be causing your head pain. Our Top Rated Chiropractors are able to administer a series of gentle and precise adjustments to relieve any pressure that is placed on your nervous system from your bones being out of alignment. Once the misaligned bones are placed back in alignment, the irritation on your nerves is relieved and the blocked pathways between your brain and the rest of your body are opened again. Our Top Rated Chiropractors want to help your body work to heal itself and relieve your head pain. These misalignments occur due to some sort of trauma which can happen when you experience a fall or are in an accident.
When you meet with one of our chiropractors, you will be asked a series of questions and undergo extensive examinations. Once the source of your pain is located, the first in a series of adjustments will occur, and your journey to relief has begun.
Is Chiropractic Care Really The Answer?
Head pain is one of the top three reasons that people seek chiropractic care. Our Top Rated Chiropractors have been very successful in the past in relieving neck pain in patients. By using an all-natural approach to relieving your head pain, chiropractors can restore your body’s natural systems and get you feeling good again. Millions of people have found relief from their head pain with this treatment option. Results are not guaranteed, however, and relief is felt at different stages of treatment for each individual.
If you think that chiropractic care may be right in treating your headache pain, call one of our Top Rated Chiropractors today to set up your appointment!