Many of us have experienced a tension headache that throbs on both sides of the head. Or how about the sinus headache that usually sets in with a fever? And then there are migraines that leave you in a quiet dark room. So, what is the difference between tension headaches, sinus headaches, and migraines? Let’s identify what is making your head hurt.
What is the Difference Between Tension Headaches, Sinus Headaches, and Migraines?
Tension Headaches
The most common type of headache is tension headaches. It affects roughly 30 percent of people and presents with feelings of discomfort in the head, scalp, jaw, or neck. The pain is dull, constant and usually experienced on both sides of the head. The cause is unknown, but stress is the most commonly reported trigger.
Sinus Headache
These headaches often appear when your sinus membranes become inflamed due to an infection such as sinusitis or a cold or flu virus. It can also occur with seasonal allergies or a change in the weather outside.
Migraine Headaches
Sufferers usually experience sharp and throbbing pain on one side of the head, and migraines are often associated with nausea, vomiting, and/or sensitivity to light and sound. Migraines are among the most debilitating types of headaches. However, they are also surprisingly common, especially in females. Women are three times more likely than men to suffer from migraines, and most experience their first around puberty. More than three million women have had a migraine, and 25 percent suffer weekly attacks. According to a 2011 study published by Statistics Canada, an estimated 2.7 million Canadians reported that they had been diagnosed with a migraine, with those between the ages of 30 and 49 experiencing the most episodes.
Cluster Headaches
One of the least common and most severe types of headache is a cluster headache. The cause of such headaches remains unknown. A cluster headache involves an intense pain behind and around the eyes that’s one-sided, throbbing, and excruciating. Cluster periods last anywhere from several weeks to three months; during that time, this kind of headache can reoccur several times per day.
How Can a Chiropractor Help with Headaches?
According to the American Chiropractic Association, chiropractic treatment is efficient for individuals suffering from chronic headaches. Chiropractic practices such as spinal adjustments can improve acute or chronic neck pain, reducing pain associated with headaches.
What is the first thing you do for a headache? When people get headaches, they often pop a pill and wait for the pain to go away, leading to adverse side effects over time, which does more harm than good.
But you don’t need to worry, as there is a better and drug-free solution, chiropractic treatment. Research has shown that chiropractic care is an efficient treatment for all kinds of headaches. For example, a 2014 report from the JMPT (Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics) indicated that particular chiropractic techniques have resulted in better outcomes for individuals with Cervicogenic, migraine, tension, and cluster headaches.
If you or someone you know experiences any kind of headache, or wants to know the difference between tension headaches, sinus headaches, and migraines, please send them over to Elite Motion and Performance to check out our unique South Austin Sports Chiropractor services, so that they do not have to suffer any longer!