Headaches are one of the most common physical problems in the range of human experience, and it is estimated that up to 90% of adults will experience at least one headache each year. Of that 90%, approximately 45 million adults will seek relief from their doctor.
Tension Headaches account for approximately 90- 92% of all headaches, making this the most common type. Muscular tension, bony misalignment, TMJ disorders, fibromyalgia, or other muscular problems generally bring about these headaches. Stress, poor posture, inadequate rest, anxiety, fatigue, hunger, and overexertion are just a few examples of how life can lead to a tension headache. Typically a tension headache can last anywhere from 30 minutes to an entire week! If your headaches occur for 15 or more days a month for 3 consecutive months, your headaches are considered chronic and you should speak to your doctor.
Vascular Headaches account for approx. 6-8% of all headaches and include classic and common migraines, cluster headaches and sinus headaches.
Migraines affect more women than men. They begin with extreme vasoconstriction during which the sufferer feels a sense of euphoria mixed with a sense of dread that the worst is yet to come. After the vasoconstriction comes a huge vasodilatation. The blood is still contained within the vessels, but the excess pressure causes excruciating pain. The pain of migraines is typically throbbing and begins on one side of the head, it also causes nausea and some visual disturbances.
Cluster headaches are closely related to migraines, but they affect men more than women. Generally they come on right after the other, for days or weeks at a time. Usually they happen at night, with pain severe enough to wake the sufferer out of a sound sleep. Episodes may occur once or twice in a year or just once in a lifetime. The pain of a cluster headache is a throbbing pain around one red, watery eye with nasal congestion on that side of your face.
Sinus Headaches are listed among congestive headaches because they deal with congestion of the sinuses. When someone suffers from sinus-related allergies or sinusitis, their sinus membranes can become irritated and inflamed, thus causing pain in the facial area. The pain of a sinus headache is a steady pain behind your face that gets worse if you bend forward and is accompanied by congestion.
So what can you do at home to treat a headache? Have a hot bath or place a hot pad on the affected muscles, try diaphragmatic breathing, self massage to tense muscles or ask someone to massage them for you, or pain free stretching and range of motion can help to decrease muscle tension. Rest, and if needed take medication. Holding an ice pack against your forehead while soaking your feet in hot water may stop a migraine, this should be done at onset.
Massage Therapy can relieve headache-producing tension in the muscles of your head, neck, shoulders, and face. During a headache massage therapy can be effective to help you relax, decrease pain, and treat any hypertonicity or trigger points that may be present in the muscles of your neck, shoulders and head. Treatment during a headache is generally a lighter, more general massage, as opposed to treatment between headaches which is more vigorous, the pressure may be deeper, and trigger points are treated more aggressively. It is important to remember that regular massage therapy treatments will be more effective at treating and preventing headaches than one single treatment as muscle tension dose not magically disappear. Combining massage therapy treatments with regular exercise, stress reduction, healthy eating and restful sleep will make a big difference in the quantity and severity of your headaches.
If your headache is resulting from a misalignment of the vertebrae in your neck or upper back, which in turn causes tension and irritation of the muscles in your neck and shoulders, a Chiropractic treatment may be able to remove the strain through spinal manipulation and realignment. It can be very beneficial to combine chiropractic treatment with massage therapy as they will work together to alleviate the strain and tension.
It is important to seek medical attention if: a severe headache is accompanied by vomiting, limb weakness, double vision, slurred speech, or difficulty in swallowing; your headache is of a kind you’ve never had, occurs first thing in the morning, is persistent, brings on vomiting, you have a high fever, light hurts your eyes, the pain is severe and is accompanied by nausea and a stiff neck; or if after a head injury, you are drowsy, with dizziness, vertigo, nausea, or vomiting.
Remember that a tension headache does not have to interrupt your life, with a little relaxation, prevention, and self care you can easily manage and prevent headaches!