A Royal Headache

The average person may get the occasional throbbing around the temples, but for other people, headaches can be downright debilitating. Though it may seem self-explanatory—“head” and “ache” are fairly straightforward terms—there are actually a variety of types of pain and pressure associated with headaches, and they often effect people in different ways.

A headache is essentially a pain in the head, face or upper neck. Skin, bone and parts of the eyes, ears, nose and mouth often exhibit the most sensitivity, and the large blood vessels in the head are the culprits behind migraines. Though most people associate migraines with the most severe type of headache, the most common form of headache is the tension or muscle contraction type. Cluster headaches and those caused by nerve damage also cause problems for some people.

Though tension headaches are the most common type of headache, it is not fully known what causes them. Most likely, it is a contraction of muscles that cover the skull when they become stressed. This stress may cause spasms, which results in pain. Migraines are also caused by an enlargement of blood vessels in the head and the release of certain chemicals from nerve fibers. There are certain factors, however, that may trigger headaches and migraines including stress, bright lights, loud noises, distinct smells, allergies, irregular sleep patterns, certain foods and missing meals.

Regardless of what type of headaches you might suffer from, chances are we’ve all had one at some point in time. The real problem comes when headaches are a chronic issue as this is sometimes a sign of something more serious going on within the body. If you get headaches three or more times a month, it’s time to look into preventative treatment. Though drug therapy is an option, there are plenty of other natural ways to manage the pain associated with headaches. Biofeedback and relaxation training (including meditation) are both common ways to curb headaches. Eliminating certain foods such as caffeine, nuts and chocolate may also help. Occasional visits to an upper cervical chiropractor will help ensure that the body is able to heal itself of problematic symptoms.

There is certainly no denying that headaches are a prevalent problem in our society. Think for a moment about the stress we pick up at work, meals we skip running from meeting to meeting, unhealthy eating habits and overwhelming messages we receive that startle all the senses. Is it any wonder that more than 90 percent of the population has suffered from them? As I often say, however, it’s important to realize that you don’t have to be a statistic. Yes, headaches are a royal pain, but there are ways to mitigate the problems they cause when you take your health into your own hands.

If you want to know more about Headaches and how chiropractic can help, The Specific Chiropractic Center invites you to its monthly lecture series on Wednesday, September 21st. Reserve your space today by calling 1-888-722-4467.

RESOURCES

Harden, Norman. “What is a headache?” ScientificAmerican.com. (January 5, 1998) Retrieved August 18, 2011 from http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=what-is-a-headache.

“NINDS Headache Information Page.” NINDS.NIH.gov. (April 15, 2011) Retrieved August 18, 2011 from http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/headache/headache.htm.

“What is a Migraine? What Causes Migraines?” MedicalNewsToday.com. (April 30, 2011) Retrieved August 18, 2011 from http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/148373.php