Do You Suffer from Headaches?

Headache

Headaches are not just a pain in the neck for many of us, but they are an increasingly common health problem in Australia. Even 18 years ago in 1995, having a headache was the illness or condition most commonly reported by individuals according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics survey. Almost 15% of the Australian population reported taking medication to treat their headaches and the age group that was most likely to report having a headache was between 25-44 years. Headaches are described in a variety of ways and occur for a variety of reasons.

The most commonly described headaches are tension headaches, migraines, cluster headaches and sinus headaches.

Different locations of headaches

Tension Headaches are frequently caused by muscle contractions or spasms over the neck and head, and can be precipitated by emotional or physical stress, by worries or anxiety such as pressure at work or a family argument. People describe tension headaches as a tight band of pressure around their head as a weigh on top of their head or shoulders. The pain tends to worsen during the late afternoon and evening.

Tension headache

Migraines are a severe, throbbing headache which often affects only one side. Migraines can be triggered by certain foods, sounds or emotions. People who suffer from migraines often experience nausea, vomiting, and sensitivity to light and noise at the same time. One of the distinguishing features of a migraine is that the person experiences a warning sign known as an “aura” sometimes up to an hour before the onset of the headache itself. The aura manifests as flashing lights or tingling and/or numbness down one side of the body.

Migraine headache

Cluster headaches are not the same as migraines. They occur in bouts or clusters lasting for 10 minutes up to 3 hours and can occur again several times within a 24 hour period. A cluster headache can cause severe pain behind one eye or one half of the head, with accompanying redness and watering of the eye and sometimes blockage of the nostril on that side.

Cluster headaches

Sinus headaches are caused by an increased production of mucus within the sinuses or in more serious cases, the increase in mucus causes blockage of the drainage system of the sinuses. The sinus headache produces a severe feeling of pressure building up over the face and eye. Ear aches sometimes go hand in hand with sinus headaches.

Common Causes of Headaches 

There are many possible causes of headaches. As pain receptors are located in the head or neck, when something stimulates these receptors headaches can occur. Possible triggers of the pain receptors can include:

• Stress (physical, mental and emotional)
• Muscle tension, particularly around the neck, back and shoulders
• Dehydration
• Postural imbalances
• High blood pressure
• Jaw/TMJ problems
• Dental problems
• Diet – certain foods can create stress and inflammation or trigger responses
• Eye problems
• Sinus inflammation/Allergies
• Hormonal changes
• Infection
• Medications – can be side effects
• Nervous System disorder
• Spinal injury or head/neck injury
• Extremes in temperature
• Loud noise
• Hangovers from alcohol or drugs
• Temporal arteritis
• Meningitis
• Arthritis

Treatment of Headaches

Headache treatment

Your Myotherapist may use a variety of options to treat your headaches depending on the cause and type. Some of the treatment options include:

• Trigger point release
• Muscle manipulations
• Dry needling
• Stretches
• Self-treatment techniques
• Recommended stress management and relaxation techniques
• Dietary changes including increasing hydration
• Supplementation of magnesium and other nutrients for nerve and muscle health
• Treatment of an underlying medical disorder
• Eliminating / changing medications causing headaches
• Recommendation to other health care professionals

If you are experiencing headaches or any of the symptoms described here, we can help you, so please contact us to make a booking.