Most people are prone to headaches  in different parts of the head and neck, with pain ranging from mild to severe.

The majority of headaches are not serious, although they can be annoying and extremely painful. Managing the pain with medication can be helpful if the problem doesn’t persist, and, in the long term, changes in lifestyle may offer a solution.

The most common types of headache are tension and migraine, which account for 90{b67a0f01f7b147b7e978da5adbadca47e09d0d78364efaa0732b6ae8d4f320dc} of all headaches, and although doctors do not consider them to be life threatening,  they can significantly affect a persons quality of life if left untreated.

The remaining, other types, include cluster and secondary headaches which are caused by some underlying disease process.

Chiropractors and some doctors have recognised another category – the cervicogenic headache which is caused by restriction in the spinal joints of the neck. It is considered by some professionals to be a type of tension headache and may contribute to migraine and tension headaches.

More Articles on Headache:

Tension Headaches
Cervicogenic Headaches
Migraine Headaches
Cluster and Secondary Headaches
Headache Self-Help Tips

There are two other types of headaches and these are cluster and secondary headaches. In this article we are going to discuss the symptoms of these headaches how to treat them effectively.

Cluster Headaches

Cluster headaches are not as common as migraine or tension headaches. They typically occur in men, in adults who are 20 years of age or older, and in people who smoke. These headaches are considered to b one of the most painful kinds of headache. The pain caused by a cluster headache is so severe that it can awaken the patient from sleep and is often described as a sharp, burning pain.

These intense headaches are typically felt on one side of the head and usually accompanied by facial pain.  Other symptoms often associated with cluster headaches include redness and watering of the eye, drooping of the eyelids and nasal blockages. These can occur every day and may even last from a few weeks to months. However, some patients do experience periods of remission. Despite the intense pain that cluster headaches bring, they are not life threatening.

Secondary Headaches

Secondary headaches are headaches that are caused by some other condition and fall in to the following two categories.

Not life threatening headaches:

• Substance use such as alcohol and/or medication overuse. The withdrawal from these substances may also cause headaches
• Psychiatric problems
• Trauma or concussion to the head as well as the structure of the head and neck

Dangerous/Life threatening headaches:

• Meningitis
• Stroke
• Tumour
• Temporal arteritis

Dangerous headaches tend to occur suddenly. They are progressive and typically start later in life.

If a patient experiences the sudden onset of a severe headache, which they have not experienced before, they should seek medical advice immediately. At our chiropractic clinics in Chester and St. Asaph, we will firstly diagnose what sort of headache a patient has and then treat them accordingly. If a patient is diagnosed with having a secondary headache, they are likely to be referred to a relevant consultant such as a neurologist.

Introduction
Tension Headaches
Cervicogenic Headaches
Migraine Headaches
Cluster and Secondary Headaches
Headache Self Help Tips

Causes and Symptoms of Cervicogenic Headache

A cervicogenic headache comes from the shoulder, neck, and the spine, and the pain is often felt in the head and the neck

Pulled or strained muscles and ligaments in the neck, disc bulges and disc prolapse can result in a cervicogenic headache. In addition conditions such as degenerative disc disease and cervical facet joint arthritis can cause one.

A Cervicogenic headache is typically associated with sharp or aching pains around the neck area and with local tenderness. Movement of the head and neck aggravates the symptoms but rest and heat improve them. Generally, patients experience this type of headache more often than migraine or cluster headache.

Treatment

Although applying heat over the affected area can help, and it can also be treated by carefully manipulating the upper neck. Choosing Chiropractic care as a treatment for can be enormously beneficial to patients. The treatment includes stretching and spinal manipulation.

Headache Introduction
Tension Headaches
Cervicogenic Headaches
Migraine Headaches
Cluster and Secondary Headaches
Headache Self-Help Tips

Tension Headaches

Tension headaches are the most common type of headache. About 70{b67a0f01f7b147b7e978da5adbadca47e09d0d78364efaa0732b6ae8d4f320dc} of headache cases are tension type. This is common in adolescents and adults of any age and gender.

Tension headaches are caused by contraction of the muscles in the head and neck. This muscle contraction can be a result of stress (environmental or emotional), fatigue, eye strain, fatigue, bad posture, alcoholic beverages, tobacco use, and hormonal changes for women.

Tension Headache Symptoms

1. Mild to moderate pain in the head and neck area. Unlike other types of headaches, the pain caused by tension headaches is usually experienced in the generalised area of the head and the neck.
2. Tight, band-like sensation felt in the back of the head and neck.
3. Muscle contraction felt in the back of the neck.
4. Headache arising at a later time of the day.

Tension headaches are usually episodic but if the headache lasts up to 15 days or more per month, it may be a chronic tension headache. A common tension headache may not keep a patient from doing their activities of daily living but if the condition is chronic, it could cause distress and disability due to its persistent nature.

Pain medication overuse can also cause chronic tension headaches. If you are used to taking medications every time you experience a headache, your body will become used to the medication. If you miss a day of taking the medication, it may result in a withdrawal headache, for which you will take another pill, thinking it is another occurrence of tension headache. Once the effect of each pain medication subsides, further withdrawal headaches occurs and the cycle will continue.

As dysfunction in the joints of the neck can lead to muscle tension, chiropractic manipulation may help relieve tension headaches

Headache Introduction
Tension Headaches
Cervicogenic Headaches
Migraine Headaches
Cluster and Secondary Headaches
Headache Self-Help Tips

What are Migraine Headaches

Migraine headaches account for around 20{b67a0f01f7b147b7e978da5adbadca47e09d0d78364efaa0732b6ae8d4f320dc} of all headaches.

The cause of migraines is somewhat unclear. However, it is believed that they can be attributed to the changes in the blood vessels, nerves, and chemical imbalances in the brain.

Migraine headaches are often chronic. It is believed that more women suffer from migraines than men.

Symptoms of Migraine Headaches

• Pain that is pulsating and throbbing in quality, usually felt on one side of the head
• Pain often begins in the morning and worsens gradually and may be dull to severe
• Pain may last from a few hours to up to two days, if severe
• Sensitivity to light and loud noises

The symptoms may also be accompanied by the following:

• Visual disturbances such as blurred vision or a temporary blind spot
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Sensation similar to vertigo

There are some patients who experience some prodromal symptoms. This means they experience other symptoms before the headache itself occurs. These include irritability, depression, food cravings, neck stiffness, repeated yawning, and temperature changes in certain body parts. Some also experience difficulty concentrating.

Risk Factors of Migraine Headaches

Anxiety, stress, and certain smells or odours may trigger a migraine. Other risk factors include:

• Family history
• Not getting enough sleep
• Alcohol and/or tobacco use
• Hormonal changes or use of birth control pills for women

Migraine headaches may also be triggered certain foods such as:

• Food that contain preservatives and artificial flavours
• Nuts
• Chocolates
• Fermented, processed, pickled, or marinated foods
• Foods that contain amino acid tyramine (smoked fish, red wine, certain beans, aged cheese, etc.)

There is good evidence that chiropractic manipulation can help migraine headaches. There have been no randomised controlled trials to ascertain whether craniosacral therapy can help with headaches, but there is a lot anectdotal evidance that it can.

Headache Introduction
Tension Headaches
Cervicogenic Headaches
Cluster and Secondary Headaches
Headache Self-Help Tips

Headache Self-Help Tips

Headaches can be quite debilitating and they can prevent you from functioning properly so it is important for you to know how to manage the symptoms and reduce the pain.

Chiropractic treatment has been proved to be effective in treating migraine and tension type headaches, and here are some tips that are also helpful in managing, preventing, and/or relieving the symptoms.

Headache Self Help Tips

• Reduce or avoid alcohol and tobacco consumption.
• Observe proper posture at all times. The type of chair you use at work is important. An ergonomic chair can aid good posture. 
• Get some fresh air.
• Perform relaxation techniques regularly.
• Exercise regularly.
• Avoid skipping meals and extreme exhaustion as these can trigger the symptoms.
• Reduce  physical or emotional stress and avoid overtiredness.
• Taking the herbal medicine feverfew is said to be effective for some people. It must be taken daily to have an effect, even on days when the symptoms are not present.

You can Reduce Migraines by doing the following:

• Taking a rest in a dark, quiet room as bright light and noise can worsen the pain.
• Finding out and avoiding any food, drinks, or odours that trigger migraine attacks. Keeping a headache diary can help to discover these triggers.

Introduction
Tension Headaches
Cervicogenic Headaches
Migraine Headaches
Cluster and Secondary Headaches