Tension
There are over 150 different types of headaches, tension being the most common. They typically feel like a constant ache in the head with pressure in the neck or the back of the head. Multiple factors can trigger a tension headache including stress, inadequate sleep, poor posture, hunger, alcohol, caffeine, TMJ problems, straining your eyes, dehydration, a cold, the flu, or a sinus infection. Tension headaches can interfere with your daily life which is why you should see a chiropractor immediately for relief.
Migraine
Migraines are typically intense and can last up to three days at a time. They are most commonly on one side of the head and can be so severe that they interfere with your daily activities. They are usually associated with symptoms like vomiting, blurred vision or loss of vision, and light & sound sensitivity. Migraines can be triggered by poor sleep, stress, exercise, diet, and hormonal changes. Nearly two-thirds of the people living with chronic migraines have not been properly diagnosed leaving them to suffer. Priestley Family Chiropractic is very successful at treating migraines.
Cluster
These headaches occur in patterns or clusters that can last weeks to months, followed by remission periods. Cluster headache pain is severe on one side of the head, accompanied by symptoms such as nasal discharge, red tearing of the eyes, restlessness or agitation, and forehead and facial swelling. Attacks can last anywhere from 15 minutes to three hours. Unlike migraine and tension, cluster headaches generally aren’t associated with triggers, such as diet, hormonal changes, or stress. Many patients have reported that chiropractic has stopped their cluster headaches.
Trigeminal Neuralgia
The trigeminal nerve carries sensation from the face to the brain. This type of nerve pain is most common in women over the age of 50 with symptoms of mild to severe facial pain which is often triggered by chewing, speaking, or brushing the teeth. The pain can start as short, mild attacks or can progress into longer, more frequent bouts of pain. Priestley Family Chiropractic helps people with this condition by removing he nerve pressure with gentle chiropractic adjustments.
Sinus or allergy headaches occur when the membranes around the nasal passages become inflamed or swollen. This buildup causes pain and pressure in your sinuses leading to dull, throbbing aches and pains. Several factors can cause nasal passage irritation: environmental irritants, airborne pollutants such as those that can cause allergies, a sinus infection, sinusitis, and the common cold. These issues can cause mucus buildup leading to pressure and pain in the sinus cavities, around the eyes, cheeks, and forehead. Chiropractic procedures like acupressure, cranial work, and lymphatic drainage are extremely successful in relieving the pressure and pain from a sinus headache.
Cervicogenic
Cervicogenic headaches are secondary ones that occur because of a physical or neurological condition that started first. Pain is referred from a specific source in the neck up to the head and around to the front of the head, and can be felt in, above, and even behind the eyes. A cervicogenic headache may be caused by trauma such as a whiplash injury, abnormal movements, or poor posture of the neck. These types of headaches are also associated with reduced flexibility of the neck and pain that can extend to the scapula, forehead, eyes, temples, and ears. Chiropractic is successful with alleviation pain by restoring the position of the spine in the neck.
COVID
COVID is a respiratory infection. With that said, research has found a link between headaches and the novel Coronavirus. Headache is on the CDC’s official list of common symptoms as one of the first presenting symptoms. When you have a viral infection your body mounts an immune response to fight it. Your immune cells release proteins, known as cytokines, that cause inflammation and lead to one. You can also experience a post COVID headache that persists after you have recovered from COVID. The COVID headache is described as severe pressure and pain in the entire head. Chiropractic can help reduce the pressure and pain of a COVID headache.
Concussion
A concussion is a traumatic brain injury that affects brain function. Concussions can lead to problems with concentration, memory, balance, coordination, and headaches. Concussion headaches can feel like a tightness or pressure and don’t always start immediately after a concussion. After a car accident or sports injury, where concussions are common, it’s important to continue monitoring your health as adrenaline and shock can initially mask the symptoms. Chiropractic helps treat the symptoms of a concussion as well as restore proper spinal structure to keep headaches from coming back.
Pregnancy
Many women experience frequent headaches during pregnancy. Most common in the first trimester, though some women find that they return in the third trimester. Pregnancy headaches can range from mild to severe and can be very uncomfortable for expectant mothers. Luckily, chiropractic care is a safe and effective method of getting rid of them.
The most common causes of headaches during pregnancy are rapid hormonal changes, increased volume of blood, stress, and postural changes. Poor posture is a known cause of them and there is no doubt that a woman’s body goes through dynamic physical changes during pregnancy that affects her posture. Women who experienced migraines before they became pregnant often find that they improve once they are expecting.
As always there are triggers to these types of headaches, so during pregnancy you want to be hyper-aware of them. Remaining well-hydrated, eating a healthy & balanced diet, and taking steps to reduce stress can help prevent them during pregnancy.
Gestational Hypertension
Gestational hypertension headaches are usually more severe than tension ones and are very persistent. Keeping blood pressure within safe limits will improve these headaches. You can reduce your blood pressure by reducing your salt intake, drinking plenty of water, and getting plenty of rest. Lying on your left side helps put the baby in the best position possible and will relieve the pressure off your major blood vessels. Chiropractic can help by making sure the body is functioning properly and that the baby can get into the proper position so the mother’s body isn’t under stress.
Dehydration
Dehydration headaches feel different to different people but typically have symptoms similar to those of other common ones. For many people, it may feel like a hangover. Dehydration headaches feel like a pulsing ache on both sides of the head and are aggravated by physical activity. These respondents describe it as an ache that becomes worse when they move their heads, bend down, or walk around. Most of these respondents felt complete relief 30 minutes to three hours after drinking water with a pinch of sea salt and squeeze of lemon to restore electrolytes.