Here’s some things I hear every week from new patients:

“I woke up this morning with an excruciating headache.  I thought the top of my head was going to blow off!”  “I notice as the day goes on, tightness in my neck worsens and I get a headache usually by 2-3pm.” “I don’t know if I can do my work with my headaches.”

And the next thing that usually comes is…

“Why does it hurt so much?”

Well, to answer that question you need to know a bit more about how headaches work.  Headaches are one of the most common complaints prompting patients to visit a health care provider.  The National Institutes of Health (NIH) describe four types of headache: vascular, muscular contraction or tension, traction and inflammatory.

Vascular Headaches
The most common form of a vascular headache is migraine.  Migraine sufferers usually complain of severe pain on one or both sides of the head, nausea or vomiting and sometimes visual changes.  There is often a heightened sensitivity to light or noise prompting migraine sufferers to lay in a dark, quiet room until the migraine passes.  Women are more likely to suffer from migraines than men and the severity of symptoms can be so extreme that all activity must be stopped until it passes.

The next most common type of vascular headache is the toxic headache produced by a fever.  Other vascular headache types include “cluster” headaches, which are characterized by repeated episodes of intense pain that start in one spot and spread out from that spot.  These may only last a few minutes to an hour but carry a very high level of pain and activity intolerance.  Another common type of vascular headache is that resulting from high blood pressure.

Tension Headaches
Muscle contraction or tension headaches involve tightening of the facial and neck muscles.  These often start in the neck and radiate over the top or to the sides of the head.  The muscles in the neck are usually extremely tight and tender and often, moderate pressure applied with the finger or thumb to these muscles will prompt radiating pain into and/or over the top of the head.  This can also result in significant activity intolerance but usually not as severe as migraine or cluster headaches.

Traction and  Inflammatory Headaches
Traction and inflammatory headaches result because of other conditions that range from a sinus infection to a stroke.  These types of headaches can serve as a warning sign of a more significant or serious condition.  Another example is meningitis as well as other conditions affecting the sinuses, spine, neck, ear, and teeth.

I know it seems complicated and for most people they don’t really care what kind of headache they have, they just want it gone.  So…

How do I get rid of them pesky headaches?

The NIH suggests, when headaches occur ≥3 times a month, that “… preventive treatment is usually recommended.” Certainly, in some cases, medication may be indicated but only after ruling out a more serious condition and after exhausting less invasive treatments that carry fewer side effects.

The American Chiropractic Association recommends: 1) avoid long time periods of staying in one position (computer, sewing machine, reading, etc.) and take stretching/neck range of motion exercise breaks every ½ to 1 hour; 2) Exercise – walking, low impact aerobics; 3) Avoid teeth clenching (due to straining the temporomandibular – TMJ, or jaw joint); 4) Drink lots of water – stay hydrated.

Chiropractic care may include spinal adjustments, nutritional advice (dietary suggestions, vitamin/mineral options such as a B complex), exercise, posture retraining, and relaxation techniques.  But What if chiropractic doesn’t work?

Sometimes, the problem is more serious.   Visit your MD if you’re getting more than 3 a week.   But there may be another cause-

Your headaches may be caused by a bulging or herniated disc in your neck.   The good news is that treatment options exist that don’t require surgery.

The DRX9000C true spinal decompression machine is used for the treatment of bulging/herniated discs in the neck and low back.  For more information just give our office a call and we can what kind of treatment relief is necessary to get you back to a normal healthy life ASAP!

This information is solely advisory, and should not be substituted for medical or chiropractic advice. Any and all health care concerns, decisions, and actions must be done through the advice and counsel of a health care professional who is familiar with your updated medical history.