Headaches: A common condition but having a headache is not normal
Almost everyone has suffered from a headache. Causes can range from too much "fun" the night before to fatigue and tension to more serious but rare underlying causes. Let's look at the most common types of headaches Dr. Lynna treats at Meridian Medicine;
Tension
These are the most common type of headaches that adults suffer from. They are often described as a dull pain that is mild to moderate but sometimes can be severe in intensity. The pain can be felt as a pressure or just as the name says "tension". The pain typically starts in the neck or back of the head and comes up or around to the top of the head. Tension headaches can be caused from poor posture, muscle tension, stress or misalignment in the spine.
Migraine
More than 38 million people suffer from migraine headaches, including 13% of adults in the United States. 91% of people miss work or can't function normally during a migraine attack. The most shocking stat: Almost half of migraine suffers have not been diagnosed. Symptoms of a migraine include; sensitivity to light and sound, nausea, moderate to severe pain, typically on one side of the head, vision changes including blurred vision and sometimes the pain is precipitated by an aura. Triggers for migraines vary from person to person, seeing someone who specializes in headaches can help determine your possible triggers.
Post Traumatic Headache
It is easy to understand that one could have a headache after some kind of head trauma. Typically, this type of head resolves in a few days, but these can last months or even years. This type of headache can be accompanied other neurological symptoms like; changes in vision, sensitivity to light and sound, depression, anxiety, disrupted sleep and ringing in the ears. There are many types of treatments that have been researched and are proven to be beneficial including; diet and nutrition, hyperbaric oxygen, acupuncture, chiropractic and more.