Millions of British people suffer from headaches on a daily basis, and for some, this pain can be genuinely excruciating and debilitating. It is vitally important that people who are suffering from regular headaches find headache relief as soon as possible. That being said, there is not a one-size, fits-all model of headaches. Indeed, there are many different types of headaches and options for headache relief.

HERE’S AN OVERVIEW OF THE VARIOUS TYPES OF HEADACHES YOU CAN SUFFER FROM, AND HOW YOU CAN FIND RELIEF

TENSION HEADACHES: Even if you never really suffer from headaches, you may find that you get a tension headache every now and then. These types of headaches are, as the name implies, caused by tension and stress in your everyday life which cause the muscles in back of your head to contract, thus irritating nerves and blood flow to the head. They can be felt as a tenderness or sensitivity, and often radiate into other places, like your neck, upper shoulders, or back. They respond best with chiropractic treatment and massage and can be prevented by lifestyle changes or relaxation exercises, such as meditation.

CERVICOGENIC HEADACHES: Like tension headaches, these headaches usually come from stress and tension, but are often exarberated by repetitive movement and poor posture. Instead of tension headaches which are often felt both sides of the temples or behind both eyes, cervicogenic headaches are instead often felt on one side of the head, often radiating between the back of the skull and the eye. Chiropractic has been shown to very effective at treating both cervicogenic and tension headaches.

MIGRAINE: Migraines are a reality of life for many people. They often come in phases, including auras and visual changes, and can be debilitating for days. In addition to the pain that is exacerbated by movement and light, migraines can also cause an array of other symptoms, including tiredness, fatigue, confusion, nausea, and more. Common causes of migraines are chemical and hormonal imbalances. Migraines can occur out of the blue and are often not completely understood, but those who suffer from them are often desperate for relief. Chiropractic is known to help with migraines, both in reducing the frequency and intensity of them.

CLUSTER HEADACHES: Cluster headaches are within the same realms as migraines for their debilitating effects on everyday life, but luckily these are rarer. However, they are still severe and not to be ignored. Cluster headaches appear as an intense pain often behind one eye, and they last for seconds or minutes at a time (hence described as ‘clusters’), and they are often associated with a runny nose or eye. Chiropractic has also been shown to help with cluster headaches, but we would co-manage these with your GP to rule out other causes.

EXERTION HEADACHES: These are headaches that occur after an extended period of physical exertion, therefore athletes are more prone to experience this type of headache. This exertion can come from a variety of sources, including intense exercise, movement, and more. This occurs as a result of intense blood flow to your head and can feel like a throbbing in your temples. Thankfully, though painful and inconvenient, these headaches are usually not terribly long-lasting and will disappear after a few hours. You should see your GP if they do not resolve on their own.