A tension headache is a common type of headache that feels like a steady ache in the head, neck, or scalp. It's usually caused by muscle tension in the neck and scalp, which can be a response to stress, anxiety, depression, or other factors. Tension headaches are typically not severe enough to prevent daily activities.
Here are some common characteristics of tension headaches:
Pain: A steady ache that usually affects both sides of the head
Duration: Typically lasts 30 minutes to several hours, but can last for several days
Other symptoms: May be associated with muscle pain, but doesn't usually cause nausea, vomiting, or sensitivity to light.
HeadachesIf you have a headache, you’re not alone. Nine out of 10 Americans suffer from headaches. Some are occasional, some frequent, some are dull and throbbing, and some cause debilitating pain and nausea. What do you do when you suffer from a pounding headache? Do you grit your teeth and carry on? Lie down? Pop a pill and hope the pain goes away? There is a better alternative.
Research shows that spinal manipulation – one of the primary treatments provided by doctors of chiropractic – may be an effective treatment option for tension headaches and headaches that originate in the neck. A 2014 report in the Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics (JMPT) found that interventions commonly used in chiropractic care improved outcomes for the treatment of acute and chronic neck pain and increased benefit was shown in several instances where a multimodal approach to neck pain had been used1. Also, a 2011 JMPT study found that chiropractic care, including spinal manipulation, can improve migraine and cervicogenic headaches.2
References:
1. Bryans R, Descarreaux M, Duranleau M, et al. Evidence based guidelines for the chiropractic treatment of adults with neck pain. J Manipulative Physiol Ther 2014; 37: 42-63.
2. Bryans R, Descarreaux M, Duranleau M, et al. Evidence based guidelines for the chiropractic treatment of adults with headache. J Manipulative Physiol Ther 2011; 34: 274-89.
What Can a Doctor of Chiropractic Do?
Your doctor of chiropractic may do one or more of the following if you suffer from a primary headache:
Perform spinal manipulation or chiropractic adjustments to improve spinal function and alleviate the stress on your system.
Provide nutritional advice, recommending a change in diet and perhaps the addition of B complex vitamins.
Offer advice on posture, ergonomics (work postures), exercises and relaxation techniques. This advice should help to relieve the recurring joint irritation and tension in the muscles of the neck and upper back.
Doctors of chiropractic undergo extensive training to help their patients in many ways beyond just treatment for low back pain. They know how tension in the spine relates to problems in other parts of the body, and they can take steps to relieve those problems.
A CLUSTER headache is a rare type of headache that is more common in men. CLUSTER headaches start suddenly. The pain is usually behind or around one eye and is very bad. If you have a CLUSTER headache, your nose and eye on the same side as the pain may get red, swollen, and runny.
Other symptoms
CLUSTER headaches can also cause:
A stuffy or runny nose
A constricted pupil
Sensitivity to light and sound
Sweating
A droopy eyelid
Types of Headaches : Migraine-One side ofhead. Light and sound sensitivity.
Tension - Band around the head. Aching pressure, triggered by stress.
Sinus - Eyes and Cheeks. Pressure and facial Pain.
Cluster - Behind one eye at a time. Swelling, redness and sweating.
Allergy - Top of head. Runny nose, sneezing and watering eyes.