Suffering From Headaches?
Every year 50% of the population will experience a headache.
Headaches can be debilitating for many people. Nearly 1 in 30 people have chronic headaches. When you have trouble with your concentration, memory, and thinking clearly, every aspect of your life is affected. Learn about some of the common types of headaches we treat at Evomotion Health and Wellness.
Common Types Of Headaches
Tension Headaches
Tension-type headaches are the most common headache disorder. Nearly 4 in 5 headaches are diagnosed as tension-type. These headaches are caused by a build up of tension in the muscles of the head, neck, and shoulders. They often arise due to excessive stress, mental exhaustion, or emotional disturbance.
Typical Presentation:
- Pain on both sides of the head
- Pressing or tightening, band-like feeling around the temples
- Mild to moderate intensity
- Lasting between 30 minutes to 7 days
- No nausea or vomiting
- Not typically aggravated by physical activity
Cervicogenic Headaches
Cervicogenic headaches are the second most common headache we see. They are caused by pain referral originating from the spinal joints, nerves, or discs in the neck. These headaches are often due to prolonged posture, but can also arise from acute injuries to the neck.
Typical Presentation:
- Pain on one side of the head
- Neck pain or stiffness with referral to the temple or front of the head
- Mild to moderate intensity
- Starts as intermittent and progresses to continuous pain
- Aggravation of sypmtoms with a certain neck movement or neck posture
- No nausea or vomiting
Migraines
Migraines are often the most disabling type of headache. Women are more than 2-3 times more likely than men to suffer from migraines. They are complex neurological disorders that come on at unpredicatable times and can have various presentations. Some people experience associated aura and have additional symptoms leading up to or during their headache.
Typical Presentation:
- Pain on one side of the head
- Pulsatile, pounding, or throbbing pain
- Associated nausea, vomiting, light sensitivity, or sound sensitivity
- Moderate to severe intensity
- Lasting between 4-72 hours
- Aggravation with physical activity
Types of Aura Symptoms:
- Visual disturbance: blindspots, colour spots, flashes of light, seeing stars, zigzag lines, tunnel vision
- Sensory disturbance: pins and needles, numbness and tingling, dizziness, vertigo, weakness
- Language disturbance: difficulty speaking, struggle finding the right words, mumbled or slurred speech
Secondary Headache Disorders
Secondary headaches are an umbrella term, describing headaches caused by another underlying medical condition. These headaches have varying presentations. The best way to relieve these headaches is to identify the cause and treat the condition.
Common Types of Secondary Headaches:
- Allergy and sinus headache
- Medication induced headache
- Hormonal headache
- Hypertension headache
- Post-traumatic headache
- Infection-related headache
