Whether it’s out of stress or migraine, headaches commonly affect households in Canada. About 1,573 adults reported suffering different headache types, according to a study.
From mild to debilitating pain, people generally take strong painkillers to relieve headaches. However, regular drug intake might impair a human body’s proficiency.
In this blog, we’ve compiled common headache types and their treatments.
1. Tension Headaches
A diffusing to moderate pain in your head is a tension headache. It’s a common headache, and as the name implies, excessive tension and stress cause it.
Symptoms
Dull to intense head pain.
Stiff shoulder and neck muscles.
Tight sensations of pressure starting from the forehead and spreading to the back of the head.
Treatment
OTC Medication: Painkillers like aspirin, naproxen, and ibuprofen provide instant relief.
Nutritional Supplements: These enhance both physical and mental health.
Chiropractic Adjustments: These include neck and posture adjustments that prevent tension headaches.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy: This therapy teaches stress management techniques.
2. Migraine
A significant pulsing and bulging pain on one side of the head is migraine pain. It usually lasts for 1–3 days. Nausea and vomiting also occur in migraines.
Causes
Genetic/heredity (migraine runs in the family)
Sleep disruption
Dehydration
Hormone fluctuations
Symptoms
Experience auras, such as flashing lights, stars, zig-zag lines, and dark spots.
Throbbing one-sided head pain.
Treatment
Seek immediate expert consultation in migraine. Some effective treatments include:
Triptans: Medicated drugs that reduce inflammation and change blood flow in your brain.
Massage therapy: Professional massage therapy involves soothing your head that reduces pain intensity.
Preventive Measures: Healthy diet and regular sleep patterns.
3. Cluster Headaches
Cluster headaches occur periodically throughout the day. After one headache reduces, the other follows. These are characterized by piercing pain around one eye or one side of the face. The causes of these headaches are unknown; many doctors believe they happen due to abnormalities in the human body’s biological clock.
Symptoms
Severe head pain on one side followed by redness, swelling, and sweating.
It occurs in series, one after the other.
Nasal congestion.
Eye tearing.
Treatment
Oxygen therapy.
Local anesthetic injections to relieve pain.
Shockwave therapy: The mild tapping of the shockwave therapy relieves inflammation in nerves.
4. Sinus Headaches
The most common headache in secondary headaches is a sinus headache caused by allergic reactions or flu. People experience sharp pangs in the head while moving their neck and head.
Treatments
Nasal steroid sprays.
Nasal decongestants.
Effective Headache Treatment in Calgary
Now is the time to switch to more effective headache treatments than traditional OTC painkillers or analgesics.
At Divergent Innovative Healthcare clinic in Calgary, we offer chronic pain management therapies. These therapies include shockwave therapy, chiropractic therapy, and massage therapy to relieve headaches. Our healthcare professionals ensure prompt treatment.
To schedule an appointment, call us at (403) 909-8111.