Headache / Migraine

Most people describe a tension headache as a dull, achy sensation at the base of the skull or encircling the head like a rubber band.

A headache is something that just about every person must deal with at some point in their life. Headaches vary widely in location, intensity, duration and frequency. Headaches can occur in different areas of the head from the base of the skull to behind the eyes.  One individual may only experience a dull, annoying ache while another may have debilitating stabbing pain with nausea and sensitivity to light.  One person may get headaches once or twice a year while another may from them suffer daily.  Some people have headaches that last only minutes while others have episodes that last for days or weeks.A headache can be caused by any number of things such as dehydration, lack of sleep, bad posture, a whiplash injury, a sinus infection or stress. Sometimes a stroke or tumor can cause headaches, however, these causes of headaches are relatively rare.  

Tension Headache

By far, the most common form of headache is a tension headache.  Most people describe a tension headache as a dull, achy sensation at the base of the skull or encircling the head like a rubber band. They tend to start in the afternoon or early evening and can last from a few hours to several weeks.

A tension headache is most commonly caused by a subluxation or misalignment in the neck. When the bones in the neck are misaligned are not moving properly, nerves going to the head are affected which can cause muscle spasms and pain. Subluxations in the neck are common due to poor posture, emotional stress & whiplash. 

It is believed that a migraine headache is caused by rapid constriction and dilation of blood vessels.

Migraine Headache

Every year, nearly 30 million people in the United States suffer from a migraine and, for unknown reasons, nearly 3/4 of those are women. 

Sufferers describe a migraine as a throbbing. pulsating pain that is often accompanied by nausea and vomiting.  A migraine can cause an extreme sensitivity to light and noise requiring the indiividual to seek a dark, quiet environment.  Sometimes an "aura"  preceeds the attack. People experiencing an aura often report visual disturbances and flashing lights. 

Migraines tend to start at a young age and have a strong genetic component. A migraine can last anywhere from hours to days.  They tend to decrease in frequency and intensity as one gets older.

It is believed that a migraine headache is caused by rapid constriction and dilation of blood vessels. When the vessels constrict, it causes a diminished blood flow and visual disturbances.  As the vessels dilate, the pressure inside the head increases rapidly.  This back and forth constriction and dilation leads to the throbbing sensation. There appears to be a wide variety of migraine triggers, including variation in sleeping habits, environmental pollutants, intense odors, flashing lights, changes in weather, medications and many foods.