Do You Suffer from Headaches?

1 in 3 people suffer from headaches some worse than others. The type and nature of headaches are varied and can range from full blown migraines to tension headaches. Most headaches have a musculoskeletal component which can lead to nerve and blood vessel irritation. Some of the areas that commonly contribute to the onset of headaches are tightness of the upper neck muscles and joints, jaw pain, sinus congestion and inflammation, postural problems and eye strain.  Differentiating what type of headache you are experiencing is an important part of managing the problem. Following is a description of some of the most common types of headaches that are experienced.

• Migraine
• Tension
• Cluster
• Cervicogenic
• Sinus
• Tinnitus
• Ear infection
• Vertigo
• Head injuries
• Jaw pain and grinding

Migraine

• Migraine is responsible for more job absenteeism and disrupted family life than any other headache type.
• Women experience migraines at least three times more often than men do, and this may be due to hormonal influences.
• While migraines occur in childhood, they generally strike in the twenties or thirties.
• Migraine is considered a vascular headache because it is associated with changes in the size of the arteries in and outside of the brain.
• The nerves around the blood vessels release chemicals which cause inflammation eliciting pain signals into the brain.
• Migraine often begins as a dull ache and then develops into a constant, throbbing and pulsating pain that you may feel at the temples, as well as the front or back of one side of the head.
• The pain is usually accompanied by nausea and vomiting, and sensitivity to light and noise.

Triggers: Bright lights, Loud noises, Strong smells, Smoke Physical or emotional stress, Changes in sleep patterns, Hormonal changes in women, Foods containing Tyramine (e.g. red wine, aged cheese), Chocolate, Food additives e.g. MSG, aspartane), Alcohol, Caffeine