Headaches,Causes and Solutions!
Did you know that headache disorders are among the most common nervous system disorders, affecting nearly half the population!!! And women are more affected than men!
And although headaches can be painful and have the capacity to be disabling, which can affect a person’s quality of life, it is one of the most commonly underestimated and under treated conditions!
Types of Headaches
There are many types of headaches and while it’s true that weather conditions can cause headaches, especially in Calgary where pressure changes and Chinook winds are common, it is likely not the primary cause of your headaches!
If your nervous system is already operating on a day to day basis very close to its threshold of tolerance, even the slightest aggravation can tip you over the edge and lead to a headache. Sometimes a chinook or other weather/ pressure change is just that - like the straw that broke the camels back.
If it’s not the Weather, What is it?!
So instead of blaming the weather- which we cant control anyways!- we prefer to figure out which factors have brought your poor body so close to its threshold in the first place. If we can make your body and nervous system more happy and balanced day to day- it should be able to withstand the fluctuations in weather and pressure WITHOUT leading to a headache.
Common causes of headaches:
1.) Tight muscles around the base of the skull and neck area
These usually cause tension headache that feels like a thick band wrapping around the head that can radiate to the back of the neck
Usually result from:
whiplash injury where the mechanism causes muscle guarding in attempt to stabilize the affected joint along the cervical spine
poor posture (increased rounding of the upper back which then causes your head and neck to tip (remember our eyes like to stay level!!). This can then lead to muscular imbalance between the muscles in your neck where some muscle can become shortened and overactive while others are lengthened and weak
Treatment
We need to address associated compensation patterns/muscular imbalances, and mobility issues at the neck and back for better spinal alignment and support
2.) Migraines
Throbbing pain that is usually one-sided and can be accompanied by other symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, light sensitivity and/or noise sensitivity
Can be preceded by visual, sensory or speech related auras
Although the exact cause of migraine is still quite unclear, studies show that the pain happens resulting from an abnormal activity between the nerve and chemical signals and blood vessels in the brain.
Some common triggers of migraines are stress and fatigue, hormonal shifts, exposure to certain environmental conditions such as weather changes, certain food/drinks (such as caffeine and alcohol)
Although there is currently no cure for migraine, treatments can help manage the symptoms and decrease the frequency of attacks.
Treatment:
Avoiding/limiting exposure to common triggers
Addressing muscular imbalances around the neck and even the skull to reduce tension build up that could trigger a migraine attack
Working on improving the mobility between the cranial bones (yes, your skull is not just one bone, it is actually made up of small bones that fit together like puzzle pieces and need to glide and slide slightly). When these bones are “stuck” it will then affect cranial nerve mobility and blood supply
3.) Concussions (Sport-related or motor vehicle accident related)
Concussion is a traumatic brain injury that is caused by either a blow to the head or the body that has enough force to cause your brain to move and shift rapidly within the skull and injure the neurons and affect or alter normal brain function.
Most common symptoms of concussion are headache, nausea/vomiting, memory and concentration issues, sensitivity to light and noise, “fogginess” and light-headedness.
Concussion-related headaches can be due to muscle guarding especially when associated with whiplash, cranial nerve restriction especially those that are related to visual functions, as well as fight or flight mechanism.
Treatment:
Regulating the nervous system to get it out of the constant fight/flight mode
Improve cranial bone and fascial mobility, again to allow for better nerve functions
Improving spinal mobility and addressing any compensation patterns between the different muscle groups
4. TMJ (Jaw) Dysfunction
Often due to teeth grinding, dental work, cheek/lip biting, jaw/facial injuries, and conditions like arthritis that causes the constant tightness of the muscles surrounding the jaw putting excessive strain on the joint which could lead to clicking, clunking, locking, stiffness, jaw pain and headaches that feel like pressure that extends from the cheek to the temple or even the top of the head.
Treatment:
Regulating the nervous system to help prevent coping behaviors/habits like jaw clenching
Release tight and overactive muscles of the jaw to offload the joint and allow for proper gliding at the joint and restore pain-free range of motion
Addressing muscular imbalances at the neck and jaw that cause faulty motor patterns during mouth opening and/or closing
What do I do for my Headaches!
We know you're probably thinking- well how can I tell exactly which of these causes is the one affecting me?! And while we hope this blog was a resource for you, the best way to know for sure if to get evaluated.
Way too many people suffer with headaches unnecessarily and just learn to rely on pain medication instead of seeking out an actual resolution.
By coming in to see one of our headache specialists, we can tell you exactly which of these factors are causing your headaches and how to get rid of them once and for all!
If you're interested in finding a resolution to your headaches, click the button below for a free 30 min session with a headache specialist.
Written by Christel Coronado
Certified Athletic Therapist specializing in headaches