Headaches are extremely common, can be debilitating and have a huge impact on quality of life. They can also be easily and effectively treated once the cause is determined and addressed.
Headaches come in many different forms, have different causes, last differing amounts of time and with varying severity. Any headache can have an impact on your ability to work, exercise and your overall quality of life.
A migraine is a severe headache at the front or one side of the head. As well as an intense throbbing pain it can also cause other symptoms including sensitivity to light (photophobia) and nausea. Females suffer more than males with 1 in 5 women experiencing migraines at some point in their life.
What can go wrong?
The most common types of headaches are:
Cervicogenic headache - originating from the muscles and joints of the neck and jaw caused by poor posture, altered biomechanics, stress and tension
Tension headache - caused by tightness and tension in the muscles of the neck and shoulders usually due to stress and anxiety
Cluster headache - very severe headache usually around one eye often accompanied by eye watering, nasal congestion, sweating and swelling of the eyelid
Migraine - severe headache often accompanied by light sensitivity and nausea and sometimes visual aura such as flashing lights
There are a number of different types of migraine, including:
Migraine with aura, which means there’s a warning sign before the pain begins. This could range from stiffness in the neck, shoulders or limbs to visual problems such as zig-zag lines in your vision, flashing lights or temporary loss of vision;
Migraine without aura, presents only with the headache;
Migraine without headache, also known as a silent migraine, when people experience an aura or other symptoms of a migraine but it doesn’t develop into a headache
People experience migraines very differently, ranging from frequent attacks to the occasional migraine.
What can cause headaches and migraines?
Factors which can trigger a migraine include stress and anxiety, certain foods, physical exertion, poor posture, altered biomechanics and hormones. There is also a genetic link, if a family member suffers from migraines you are more likely to as well.
Poor posture, prolonged periods of sitting and general inactivity all have an impact on your spine which causes the muscles to become tight and the joints to become stiff. This can cause a cerviocgenic or tension headache. Headaches can also be a symptom of whiplash.
Although headaches can have a severe impact on people’s quality of life, there are effective treatments available to help manage the condition.
Current research suggests that massage therapy, physiotherapy, relaxation and chiropractic spinal manipulative therapy can be equally as effective as pharmacological treatment of headaches including migraine. (Source: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov)
Specialist Treatment And Prevention of headaches and migraines
At The Medical we offer a wide range of services to treat headaches delivered by our team of exceptional practitioners.
Our specialist practitioners, combined with the unique treatment plan we've developed, ensures we deliver the highest quality service and best possible results.
If you are concerned about your symptoms, book a consultation with one of our GPs. The GP will examine you, discuss your symptoms and explain your diagnosis, discussing any treatment options with you. Both female and male GPs are available if you have a preference. Consultations are available in-clinic or over the telephone.
What is physiotherapy?
Is it right for me?
Want to know more about Physiotherapy?
Find frequently asked questions and articles from our experts in Health Hub.
