07 Aug Get a Handle on Your Headache Pain
If you are someone who suffers from frequent headaches, you are not alone. According to the National Headache Foundation, over 45 million Americans suffer from chronic, recurring headaches. In fact, headaches are one of the most common ailments that humans experience. 90% of our global population will experience one at some point. If that statistic isn’t enough to persuade you to learn more, how about knowing that 25% suffer from recurring severe headaches and 1 in 20 suffer from daily chronic head pain? Headache pain can range from annoying to debilitating. Learning about the causes and treatments can help you avoid chronic headaches or eliminate them.
Headaches
Like most people, you may be familiar with headaches already. A headache is simply pain in the head. However, that pain usually lasts for an extended period of time and can be accompanied by sharp and fleeting pains. Some people may feel pain in various parts of the head or may feel like their brain is hurting. However, that pain is not actually in the brain. There are small nerves located on the surface that trigger reactions such as pain to manifest. When those nerves are activated, your head will start to ache. This ache can last for a short period of time or can last all day. When the pain is debilitating and happens frequently, this is generally known as a migraine.
Symptoms and Causes
The cause could stem from stress, anxiety, lack of sleep, dehydration and ailments to various parts of the body. Your pain could also stem from common illnesses like the flu, ear infections, chronic coughing that stretches the nerves of the neck, and ruptured blood vessels in the brain. Slumping or slouching can affect your head and neck and cause pain. Consumption of alcohol almost always produces a headache, so be cautious when drinking. Overall, an aching head isn’t a very clear indicator of any one problem, but your symptoms could give a better idea as to what the problem is. Common symptoms include:
- Pain in the scalp or pain localized to one part of the head
- Sensitivity to light, sound or smells
- Repetition of the headaches, especially over long periods of time
- Burning or tingling sensations that accompany head pain
What a Pain!
Headaches are one of the most common ailments that people experience worldwide. Take a look at some of these statistics:
- An estimated 45 million Americans struggle with headache pain each year.
- On a worldwide scale, about 50% of the population struggles with a headache disorder.
- That means that 1 in 6 people are affected.
- It is reported that about 8 million people seek medical help for their symptoms each year.
- You have episodic headaches if you have them less than 15 times a month.
- The problem is chronic if you experience them more than 15 times a month.
- The most common type is the tension headache, or one caused by TMJ, jaw function problems, or poor head posture.
- The second most common type is the migraine, which is more severe and debilitating.
- Women have migraine headaches twice as much as men, mostly due to hormones.
- A tension headache can last for 30 minutes or so or it can last for several days.
- Ancient Egyptians performed complex rituals or primitive neurosurgery to try and stop migraines and headaches.
- Poor posture and lack of sleep (or sleep disturbances) can cause your symptoms.
Handling the Headaches
Headaches that don’t occur frequently, have no known cause and are unusually severe should be taken seriously. It could be the sign of a serious health risk. However, episodic and chronic headaches occur frequently, and you have treatment options to feel better now. Medication can help pain and symptoms temporarily, but the pain generally returns as the medication fades. We have longer lasting options such as:
- Stress reduction methods to stop headaches before they start.
- Spinal adjustment and manipulation to release pressure on crucial nerves.
- Traction or computer-assisted stretching to stop tension in the neck from irritating the head.
- Cervical corrective care to restore the cervical lordosis.
- Referrals for further treatment if the problem you face is a life-threatening condition.
If you have already tried adjusting your lifestyle and avoiding triggers, you may need our help. We seek solutions that work over time and are effective without medication.
Your Free Consultation
Headaches don’t have to be a way of life. Handle your symptoms before they become a chronic problem. Find the cause and eliminate it with our help at Mile High Spine & Pain Center. For your free consultation, call our office today at (720) 507-0080!