Headache Q&A

What causes a headache?

Headaches result from pain messages your brain receives from the nerves in your head. Many different things can trigger the transmission of pain messages and cause headaches, including:

Infections

Conditions affecting your upper respiratory tract, like colds, flu, and sinusitis, or anything that gives you a fever, commonly cause headaches. Inflammation of the soft tissues inside your head leads to pressure building up, resulting in pain.

Stress

Stress makes your muscles tense. If you suffer from chronic stress, tightened muscles in your neck and head are likely to cause a headache. 

Head injuries

Receiving a blow on your head is almost certainly going to cause instant pain, but you’re also likely to develop a headache. Don’t take a head injury lightly because even if you feel fine, you could have a concussion.

Your environment

Breathing in chemicals, pollution, and allergens, looking at dazzlingly bright lights or squinting in the sun, and listening to loud noises, can all cause headaches. Some people find that changes in barometric pressure trigger a headache when the weather changes.

Dehydration

Not drinking enough fluids throughout the day is a leading cause of headaches and fatigue. 

Spinal misalignments

If the vertebrae, discs, and connective tissues that make up your spine are out of alignment, you might suffer from repeated or persistent headaches.

Many types of headaches have no clear cause. Examples include some of the most severe kinds of headaches, such as migraines and cluster headaches.

What treatment can help with headaches?

You can resolve many everyday headaches yourself. Drinking more fluids, managing stress, exercising regularly, and avoiding excessive noise, light, and chemicals can all help. Over-the-counter pain medicines can also be useful, but they don’t address the underlying cause of your condition.

Spine Care of Manassas Chiropractic Center provides several treatments that may help with relieve ongoing headaches. Your provider begins by examining your spine and head to look for misalignments. If they find any, they use manual manipulation and special chiropractic tools to correct them.  

Other treatments that could be beneficial include:

• Massage therapy
• Spinal decompression
• Myofascial dry needling
• Cold laser therapy
• Postural rehabilitation
• Rehabilitative exercises
• Electrical stimulation
• Therapeutic ultrasound
• Deep breathing exercises
• Meditation or yoga 

If you get migraines, identifying what triggers them can help you to reduce their frequency.

To benefit from expert headache treatment, call Spine Care of Manassas Chiropractic Center today or book an appointment online.