Heading for Another Headache
Headaches are one of the most common pain conditions in the world. It is estimated that up to 75% of adults worldwide have suffered from a headache in the last year, so, if that includes you, you know you are not alone.
Ongoing headaches can be very debilitating and can lead to depression. There are many different types of headache, and not all of those are well researched and understood. Broadly they are broken into two categories: secondary headaches are related to another underlying problem, whilst primary headaches are not caused by other triggers.
We are obviously not going to focus on every type of headache, but let's explore some of the more common ones we see in the clinic...
First we'll take a look at a couple of primary headache types:
Tension - this is the most common type. Classically it affects both sides of the head and can be mild or moderate. Every day activities such as bending or walking upstairs can aggravate the pain. Over the counter medication is usually the best option.
Migraines - there are so many types of migraine and experts still don't fully understand them. There are a lot of different presentations - some report auras, which can be visual or smell, time span for suffering varies too. The pain is usually throbbing and it can vary from moderate to severe.
Secondary headaches are more likely to be triggered by something such as a change in eating habits, excess alcohol, medication, poor sleep, emotional stress, eyesight or neck issues.
Headaches caused by neck issues are known as cervicogenic. They are commonly caused by poor posture and upper back strain. As our use of computers has increased, and more recently smart devices including mobiles, this type of headache has increased. And the younger generations are now more susceptible to this.
Patients often mention headaches as part of our consultation. It is our job to establish if we are able to help, based on the type of headache. We can usually support you with migraines or cervicogenic headaches. In line with medical research, we find a combination of manipulation, mobilisation and massage helps, particularly in conjunction with advice on diet and exercise. We can help you identify trigger factors, and discuss how to change your posture, work with exercise or manage your environment to minimise headaches.
Vera stresses to patients that headaches are very individual and treatment is aimed at decreasing severity, frequency or length, even if there is not a complete cure.