Headache, Especially In Women
Nearly everyone suffers from a headache at some point in their life, however women are 4 times more likely to experience headaches. Many people suffer from recurrent or constant headaches and that doesn’t have to be the case. There are many types of headaches which can be caused by a wide range of factors. The most common types of headaches include tension type headaches, cervicogenic headaches, migraines, and hormone related headaches.
Tension-type headache
A tension type headache usually causes mild to moderate pain, and pressure or tightness around your forehead, the back of your head and neck. Some people say it feels like a tight band around their head. These headaches are commonly caused by stress, poor posture, bright lights, medication overuse, stress, anxiety, fatigue, and tight muscles.
Cervicogenic headaches
Cervicogenic headaches (‘cervico-‘ neck, ‘-genic’ origin) occur as a result of spinal problems in the neck. These headaches are generally one sided and felt in the back of head, often spreading to top of head, forehead, and temple. They are 4 times more common in females. They are caused by any type of neck condition including overload, poor posture, trauma the area and degeneration.
Migraines
Migraines usually occur on one side of the head and cause severe throbbing pain or pulsing. Other symptoms include nausea, vomiting, and extreme sensitivity to light and sound. 75% of migraines occur in women.
Hormone-related headaches
A major contributing factor to chronic headaches and migraines in women is fluctuating hormone levels. Hormone levels change during the menstrual cycle, pregnancy, and menopause, and are also affected by oral contraceptives and hormone replacement therapies.
Our practitioners can conduct a thorough history and examination and can diagnose what type of headache you may have. Then, we can create an appropriate management plan with you to help manage your headaches. Manual therapy and lifestyle advice can contribute to headache management, so if you are suffering from recurring headaches, book in for an appointment at the clinic today.