Headaches are often some of the most frustrating pains to have because they are very difficult to pinpoint what causes them. A headache is any pain in the head and/or face area. The pain can be described as throbbing, dull, or sharp and it can either come on suddenly or very gradually. About 45 million Americans get chronic headaches. That represents about one in every six people.  Nine out of every ten people have suffered from headaches at some point.

There are too many types of headaches to be covered in one place, so let’s focus on some of the more common but less covered types of headaches and some really important symptoms to look out for when a headache comes on.

One of the most common types of headache is what is known as a cervicogenic headache. This means that the headache is caused by a disturbance in the nerves of the upper neck. The nerves of the upper neck go to the head and face area and send pain signals from the head back to the brain.  Cervicogenic headaches are one of the most common types of headaches and are commonly misdiagnosed as other types of headaches.  This type of headache can be identified by a chiropractor by checking the movement of the vertebrae and the muscle tension of the upper part of the neck to make sure there are no imbalances.   Other imbalances of the spine and even the feet can contribute to cervicogenic headaches.  If imbalances exist, they can be treated with a chiropractic adjustment of the spine or extremities, myofascial therapy, custom orthotics, custom mouthguard, or even a recommended sleep system.

Another important type of headache to be aware of is a hypertension headache.  This type of headache is caused by high blood pressure and is also very common.  It is important to check blood pressure on a regular basis.  The best time of day to check is first thing in the morning.  Record the results and make sure to share it with the chiropractor or general practitioner.  Hypertension headaches are alleviated by lowering blood pressure.  Maintaining low salt and bad fat intake in the diet is very helpful.  Regular adjustments of the upper neck by a licensed chiropractor may also help to lower blood pressure according to some recent studies.

Another cause of headaches that is not commonly mentioned but extremely important to be aware of are headaches caused by food allergies.  A food allergy is caused by the intake of a particular food that may have never caused problems before.  Food allergies are tricky to identify because symptoms can occur 24-48 hours after a particular food is eaten.  If food allergies are suspected, a detailed food intake journal should be kept for at least a week, noting exactly what time of day the food is eaten and what time of day the headaches occur.  Culprit foods can either be pinpointed by process of elimination (eliminate all foods except basic nutrients and add back foods one at a time to determine the culprit) or a simple IgG and IgE blood test can be performed to pinpoint 50-300 potential food allergens that can then be eliminated from the diet.

A very rare but important type of headache to understand is the stroke headache.  This type of headache is extremely dangerous and is typically described as coming on very suddenly and “it feels like no other headache I’ve ever had before”.   If someone is experiencing this type of headache, he or she should proceed immediately to the emergency room as neither a chiropractor or general practitioner would be able to help.  Other symptoms to watch out for include facial drooping, sudden difficulty speaking, sudden mental confusion (not knowing where he or she is or what he or she is doing there), numbness or weakness especially on one side of the body, dizziness, or a sudden inability to walk or keep balance.  If someone is going to a chiropractor or GP, it is important to let them know of these symptoms so certain treatments can be avoided and an ambulance can be called.

Remember that headaches are not normal and they are not acceptable in one’s life.  Prevention is always the best medicine.  Consult with a chiropractor before getting headaches to make sure that lifestyle matches health goals.  The old adage will always hold true – an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure…

Sources:

• American Chiropractic Association
• Distinguishing a Severe Headache From the Warning Signs of Stroke