Jan 7, 2020
The pain felt when you have a headache may be difficult to describe. However, headaches are often accompanied by typical symptoms such as numbness, blurred vision, throbbing and intense pain, nausea, etc.
Headaches may be felt on one or both sides of the head. In some cases, a person may experience severe pain at the back of the neck or around the eye and possibly at the top of the head. That’s why at our Chiropractic office in Elizabeth City, NC, we help you identify your type of headache and apply specific strategies and techniques to help lessen or get rid of your headaches.
Headaches are classified into two broad categories based on the underlying cause. The two broad classifications of headaches are:
Primary Headache & Secondary Headache
Causes of Primary Headaches
Primary headaches are those forms of headaches that do not exist as a result of other health conditions. However, primary headaches may occur as a result of overactivity of pain-sensitive structures in the head.
Factors that influence or trigger chemical activity in the brain skull, head and neck muscles, blood vessels, or nerves may cause a primary headache. Common types of primary headaches include tension headaches, migraines, and cluster headaches.
Lifestyle factors including the following can trigger some primary headaches:
Alcohol
Excessive intake of alcohol may cause a hangover, which may lead to dilation of blood vessels and may cause migraines.
Lack of sleep
Sleep helps the nervous system and eventually the muscles to relax and help you recover from stress. However, inadequate sleep may trigger the production of cortisol, a stress hormone that may cause your nervous system to go into fight or flight leading to tension, discomfort and eventually a headache.
Poor posture
Sometimes when you sleep wrong, look down at your phone too much, sit looking at a computer all day, possibly from old traumas and injuries, or staying in a particular position for too long may also cause a headache. You may wake up with throbbing pain in your head or the back of your neck.
Stress
Stress is one of the most common causes of primary headaches. When the body is overstressed, you may experience nervous system & muscle weakness and pain in the head.
Skipped meal
Your body needs food as a source of fuel and energy. When you skip a meal or forget to eat, you may experience a slight headache accompanied by a pounding in the head.
Causes of Secondary headaches
Secondary headaches occur as a result of an underlying medical condition that may activate pain-sensitive nerves in the head. The following are likely causes of secondary headaches:
Concussion
Concussion refers to a traumatic injury to the brain, which may affect the functionality of the brain. Severe headache is a likely effect of concussion.
Dental Problem
Infections and simple cavities may trigger a headache. Dental headaches may also be caused by muscle strain which builds up in the jaw and mouth.
Spinal Misalignment
Spinal misalignment may cause headaches by irritating, spinal nerves that travel to the face and head region. This is one of the most common causes of a headache. Research shows that nearly all headaches have a spinal misalignment of one or more the neck bones. This condition is called a spinal subluxation which is associated with headaches and many other ailments.
Carbon monoxide poising
Early symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning are severe headaches, which may be accompanied by nausea and fatigue. Make sure you have a detector in your home.
Acute sinusitis
Sinusitis may occur as a result of a cold, fungal infection, or a viral upper respiratory infection. Headaches decreased the sense of smell, and pain in the cheek or upper teeth are common symptoms of acute sinusitis.
Glaucoma
Glaucoma is an eye disease that is caused by the overproduction of eye fluid or improperly drained eye fluid. Glaucoma may lead to an increase in pressure within the eye, which may also cause headaches, nausea, and vomiting.
Other common causes of secondary headaches include:
Arterial tears
Brain tumor
Dehydration
Ear infection
High blood pressure
Meningitis
Influenza
You can always consult me (Dr. Jason Jones), an experienced Chiropractor for more information on causes of headaches and how to treat it effectively using natural measures.