Posted on Wednesday, September 7, 2016

Prevention and Treatment Strategies for Tension Headaches

Approximately 15-20% of the population will suffer from headaches at any given time. Headaches can range from mild to severe with symptoms varying wildly. It’s one of the top medical ailments for which people seek treatment, and tension headaches are the most common type of headache. Tension headaches are often related to tension in the muscles of the head, neck, and jaw and are frequently stress related. The actual physical cause is still not fully understood, but it’s likely linked to how the brain and nervous system perceives muscular pain and stress. The good news is that tension headaches are very treatable!

Tension headaches are categorized as either episodic (meaning that you experience less than 15 headaches per month) or chronic (meaning that you experience more than 15 per month). They are nearly as frequent in children and teens as adults. Women tend to experience them more often than men by nearly two to one.

Tension Headache Symptoms include:

The pain tends to wax and wane in severity (sometimes, throbbing or pulsing occurs).
The pain is often described as pressure like and is typically felt on both sides of your head.
The pain typically impacts the whole head, but it may begin in the back of your head or above your eyebrows. It’s typically painful around the temple area of your head and/or back of your head and neck.
Many describe the pain as a severe tightness (like a vise grip) around the forehead or like a cap or band-like sensation which encircles their skull.
The pain tends to come on gradually. Even at maximum intensity, it isn’t typically incapacitating. (Most people are able to continue with their daily activities despite the pain.)

Potential Triggers for Tension Headaches include:

Stress
Anxiety
Impaired sleep (fatigue)
Low blood sugar from improper eating
Hunger
Eye strain
Overexertion
Muscle strains and pain
Muscle tension
Cervical dysfunction (cervicogenic)
Poor posture
Hormonal changes and/or menses
Foods such as processed meats, gluten, red wine, and dairy
Environmental factors such as poor air quality, certain smells, and different chemicals that are inhaled or applied topically on the body.

Treatment for Tension Headaches

In most cases, effective treatment needs to be multifactorial as there are likely multiple triggers causing the headache. In general, treatment needs to focus on both the prevention of the tension headache and methods of dealing with an active headache as both tend to interrelate.

Prevention for Tension Headaches:

To effectively manage (and ultimately, prevent) tension headaches, effective stress management and elimination of known triggers are primary treatment strategies.

Stress management. Effective stress management should not be overlooked as an important treatment modality. There are many different methods to help you manage stress more effectively. Common methods include meditation, journaling, and yoga. You may also need to reconsider certain friendships and relationships in your life. The key to effectively managing stress is to find an enjoyable activity, and then stick with it. This is a process–a journey (not a destination).
Eliminate food triggers. Many foods can trigger headaches. An effective management strategy will be to identify and then eliminate food triggers. We may not even be aware of how negatively certain foods affect us. If you choose to eliminate your trigger foods, you will be amazed about how well you start to feel in general. Common food triggers include: red wine, aged meats or cheese, dairy products, and gluten. Addressing food triggers is a critical step in treatment. I recommend that you take an IgG food sensitivity test. IgG is an immunoglobulin antibody found in the body. This test can help to determine if certain foods are causing your body to react in a negative way. Addressing any sensitivities and possible gut or gastrointestinal issues can be very helpful in treating both tension and migraine headaches. Please seek assistance from a functional medicine doctor who specializes in headaches and gastrointestinal issues if your symptoms are correlated with any food triggers.
Eliminate caffeine. This can be very tough because caffeine tends to be helpful in reducing initial symptoms. Chronic caffeine use (particularly in headache suffers) is known to cause rebound headaches (another sub classification of headaches). Rebound headaches occur when the same substance that helps to reduce symptoms will also cause the next headache to happen. Eliminating caffeine initially is difficult as it may trigger another headache. However, long term elimination of caffeine from your diet can be very effective in preventing headaches. Just watch out for over the counter (OTC) medications that contain caffeine as an active ingredient.
Focus on your posture. Poor posture is a bane of modern society. The most common example of poor posture is a forward head with rounded shoulders. This causes excessive muscular tension throughout the cervical spine, upper trapezius region, and mid-thoracic area. Over time, this also leads to muscle weakness in the cervical spine and upper thoracic area. Proper posture allows for the optimal alignment of your spine. Neurologically speaking, this allows for your muscles to down regulate by reducing tension. Poor posture is almost always associated with muscle knots and trigger points. My Top 8 Stretches to Eliminate Neck, Upper Back, and Shoulder Pain is a downloadable .pdf file with my recommended stretches and exercises to address posture. These simple exercises (with complete instructions and photos) will help you to improve poor posture and can be performed at home.

DOWNLOAD NOW: My Top 8 Stretches to Eliminate Neck, Upper Back, and Shoulder Pain

How to Treat when you’re experiencing a Tension Headache:

Fix your posture. Poor posture is one of the most common causes of muscle spasming and pain. This is particularly true if you spend a good portion of your day sitting. If you’re already experiencing a headache or you feel like one might be starting, I highly recommend that you initiate my stretching protocol (as noted above).
Massage. Many trigger points and muscle spasms will refer pain into the head (which causes the headache). It’s important to actively and physically address the muscle tension. This is the time to contact a masseuse, physical therapist, athletic trainer or friend who is skillful in body work and massage to relieve the area in spasm. The specific massage technique to use will vary according to your preference. Massage techniques range from a light relaxing massage to a deep tissue massage or utilization of acupressure points. This can also be an effective prevention strategy.
Foam roller. The foam roller allows you to perform self-massage and tissue mobilization. The foam roller is a wonderful tool to prevent muscle cramping and spasms. Please refer to the following posts for more information: Foam Rolling For Rehabilitation and 5 Ways to Improve Range-Of-Motion. I highly recommend a foam roller to help aid in your recovery.
Other self-mobilization tools. Many times, a friend or masseuse isn’t available to assist when you need the help the most. A foam roller cannot effective reach places in the upper back or arms, so other self-mobilization tools may be necessary. You can get creative and use a tennis ball or golf ball, but I like a specific tool called a Thera Cane Massager. This tool allows you to apply direct pressure to a spasming muscle. When held for a long enough period of time, the Thera Cane Massager will usually cause the muscle spasms to release and provide much needed pain relief!
Magnesium. A deficiency in magnesium is often associated with headache symptoms. Most people are deficient in the amount of magnesium they consume on a regular basis. You can take Mag Glycinate in pill form or by eating foods higher in magnesium such as spinach, artichokes, and dates.
Topical agents. Many topical agents can help to decrease and eliminate muscle spasms which can help to reduce headache pain. You can apply a small amount of the topical agent directly over the headache pain area if it’s accessible and not near your eyes. (Please use common sense.) You may find that one product works better than another. Some of my favorite products in my medicine cabinet include: Biofreeze Pain Relieving Gel; Arnica Rub (Arnica Montana, an herbal rub); and topical magnesium.
Magnesium bath. The combination of warm water with magnesium is very soothing and relaxing. Magnesium is known to help decrease muscle pain and soreness. Options include: Epsoak Epson Salt or Ancient Minerals Magnesium Bath Flakes. I find that the magnesium flakes work better, but they are significantly more expensive than Epson salt.
Acupuncture. I am personally a big fan of acupuncture. It is very useful in treating all kinds of medical conditions. It can be particularly effective in treating headaches, muscle trigger points, muscle cramps, spasms, and pain as it addresses the issues on multiple layers. Acupuncture directly stimulates the muscle by affecting the nervous system response to the muscle while producing a general sense of well-being and relaxation.
Medications. Medications can be an effective short term solution to headache pain, but I strongly encourage you to transition off of medications over time. Many over the counter (OTC) medications contain caffeine which can lead to another type of headache called a rebound headache. This occurs when the medication wears off and triggers another one. This is common with medications such as Excedrin which contains caffeine. Other types of medications include acetaminophen, aspirin, Ibuprofen, and Naproxen. In some cases, prescription medications may be used initially to help you tolerate the pain as you work toward prevention. Please speak to your physician regarding prescription options.
Speak with your Physical Therapist (PT) or Physician (MD). If you are suffering with headache and muscle tension/pain, there are options. Please speak to your medical provider to determine if other causes are contributing to the problem. Physical therapy is very good at assisting those suffering with these types of headaches. The American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) offers a wonderful resource to help find a physical therapist in your area. In most states, you can seek physical therapy advice without a medical doctor’s referral (although it may be a good idea to hear your physician’s opinion as well).

Tension headaches are a common and debilitating problem. Although this is not an exhaustive list of treatment options, it offers many different and effective methods for you to consider. In many cases, the techniques utilized to treat an active headache are also effective in prevention.

In nearly all cases, the frequency of tension headaches can be reduced and eliminated in general. The key is to acknowledge that you are not powerless when addressing this type of headache. However, there isn’t just one magic cure for the headache either. Effective treatment will likely be multifactorial. Begin by implementing one or two of the strategies, and then assess how well they worked for you. If the technique helped, continue with it and then implement another strategy. Create a plan with specific strategies for prevention in addition to knowing beforehand as to how you will treat an active headache. This will empower you to recognize that you have control and are not destined to have headaches forever.

Can you share any prevention tips or treatment techniques that have worked for you when dealing with a tension headache? Please leave your comments below.

If you have a question that you would like featured in an upcoming blog post, please comment below or submit your question to contact@thePhysicalTherapyAdvisor.com. Be sure to join our growing community on Facebook by liking The Physical Therapy Advisor!

Disclaimer: The Physical Therapy Advisor blog is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute the practice of medicine or other professional health care services, including the giving of medical advice. No health care provider/patient relationship is formed. The use of information on this blog or materials linked from this blog is at your own risk. The content of this blog is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Do not disregard, or delay in obtaining, medical advice for any medical condition you may have. Please seek the assistance of your health care professionals for any such conditions.

Posted on Wednesday, August 31, 2016

How to Prevent and Treat Migraine Headaches

Migraine pain is the second most common type of headache (with tension/cervicogenic type headaches being the most common). Up to 16-17% of the population complains of migraines. These headaches can be very debilitating. Migraine pain is often in combination with other forms of headaches. It can even be triggered by a tension headache or sinus headache. Migraines can also be caused by menstruation or hormonal imbalances.

Migraine headaches are just one of many types of headaches. Migraines sufferers are more common in women. Certain statistics conclude that women are up to three times more likely to have migraine type symptoms. Presently, the exact causes of migraines are not well understood. Migraines are often associated with a trigger, but you can have one or multiple triggers.

Migraines also have a genetic component. If you have a parent or sibling who experiences migraines, you will have a higher likelihood of developing them as well. It’s also not entirely known if the familial component to migraines is due to something anatomical in regard to brain or other physiological factors or if the predisposition is based on the living environment or other factors that could be causing the trigger.

There are two categories of migraines. Episodic is when you experience 14 or less days with a headache. Chronic is when you have 15 or more headaches per month.

The Four Phases of Migraine Pain:

Although symptoms of a migraine will differ for everyone, symptoms tend to progress through the following four major phases.

Prodromal Phase

This is the pre-headache phase that can occur hours or up to a day in advance. Initial symptoms and patterns can be found up to one to two days prior to the actual migraine. Typical symptoms may include: excessive energy or excitability; possible depression; overly fatigued; irritable; thirsty; frequent urination; and cravings for specific foods.

Aura Phase

Not everyone experiences this phase. Approximately one in five people will describe feelings of an aura (a visual disturbance) which can include any change in vision from experiencing blind spots, hallucinations, and different arcs of light. Other associated symptoms include a pins and needles feeling which can be felt in your face or other areas of your body. You may experience changes in speech. Many of the initial symptoms can mimic symptoms of a stroke. (Please refer to signs of a CVA).

Attack Phase

This phase occurs when the pain starts to develop, and it can last hours to days. Most typically it will be behind your eyes and will affect one or both sides of your head. Symptoms include: throbbing pain on one side of your head (although pain can be present on both sides); pain behind your eyes; difficulty performing typical activities; pain that worsens with activity or heat; nausea; vomiting; and sensitivities to light, noise, and smells.

Postdromal Phase

This is the phase after the migraine has ended, but some symptoms linger which can last for hours or up to a day or so. Symptoms include: fatigue; sluggishness; lack of mental sharpness; and intermittent pain (particularly, if you move too much or rapidly).

How to Manage Migraine Headaches:

Typical medical management of migraine headaches starts with a diagnosis from a medical doctor. Your doctor may refer you to a neurologist or specialist for treatment and/or diagnosis. A thorough examination should be completed. A CT Scan or MRI may also be performed to check for other more serious pathology in the brain.

Medications are often prescribed and are categorized the following two groups:

Acute Medications. These medications are taken after the migraine pain and symptoms have already begun. These may include both over the counter (OTC) or prescription medications (including opioids or NSAIDS, such as Ibuprofen or Naproxen or even stronger anti-inflammatory medications).

Preventive Medications. The medications are typically taken hours to days prior to the migraine pain and symptoms. Such medications are prescription based. A common family of medications used is known as Triptans. These medications are only for treating migraine headaches and are meant to be taken immediately upon the first sign of one. They cause the brain to release more serotonin. This causes the blood vessels in your brain to narrow and reduce swelling which helps to control symptoms. These medications are often prescribed with other pain medication and/or anti-nausea medications. The following is a partial list of Triptans:

eletriptan (Relpax®)
frovatriptan (Frova®)
naratriptan (Amerge®)
rizatriptan (Maxalt®)
sumatriptan (Imitrex®, Alsuma®, Onzetra™, Sumavel™, Zecurity®)
zolmitriptan (Zomig®)

In the initial phase of treatment, it’s imperative to have an accurate account of the symptoms, type of pain, and suspected triggers. This will be an important first step in guiding treatment as in almost all cases successful treatment will be multifocal.

Initially, I always recommend that you start a thorough headache log or diary. Don’t perseverate over every little detail of your headaches, but you need an accurate account of frequency and triggers.

Often, triggers can occur from hours up to a day in advance. Log each of your activities and meals for up to a month. Look for patterns. Try to establish patterns to the headaches. When do they occur? Do certain foods trigger the headache? Which activities will cause a headache? What makes the symptoms better or worse? Are they associated with certain movement patterns, activities or even certain times of the day or month?

Be thorough about what occurred prior to the headache and which treatments helped the most to resolve the headache. Once you have completed a thorough headache log, the treatment will focus on the following two major categories: prevention and the actual treatment of symptoms.

Prevention for Migraine Headaches:

Exercise. It’s well documented that mild to moderate intensity exercise can help to reduce or eliminate headache symptoms. The reason why it’s so effective isn’t entirely known. It may be because of the endorphin released during exercise, changes in blood flow to the brain, stress reduction, improvement in strength, and/or changes in hormonal regulation patterns. Regardless, regular exercise is a must. Find what works for you, and stick with it.
Yoga and other forms of similar exercise such as Chi Gong and Tai Chi are all excellent forms of exercise and can help to reduce stress levels which can affect migraine pain.
Meditate. Regular meditation or prayer can reduce stress and lower the frequency of headaches. Deep breathing can be a form of meditation. I often perform what is known as box breathing. I breathe in for four seconds, hold the air for four seconds, and breathe out for four seconds. Then I wait four seconds prior to breathing again. Repeat this for several minutes and focus only on your breathing.
Magnesium. A deficiency in magnesium is often associated with headache symptoms. Most people are deficient in the amount of magnesium they consume on a regular basis. You can take Mag Glycinate in pill form or by eating foods higher in magnesium such as spinach, artichokes, and dates.
Vitamin B2 (also known as Riboflavin). A deficiency in B2 can be associated with migraine symptoms. Supplementation has been proven to reduce the frequency of migraine headaches. B2 is important in the production of red blood cells and plays a role in how your body gets energy from carbohydrates, fats, and proteins.
Butterbur. This is an herb that is known to relieve muscle spasms and works as an anti-inflammatory.
Adequate Sleep. Proper sleep is critical. Poor quality sleep, including too much or too little of sleep, has been identified as a trigger for migraine headaches. Focus on getting a good quality of seven to nine hours of sleep nightly. To learn how to maximize your sleep, please refer to Michael Hyatt’s nighttime rituals.
Stay Hydrated. Dehydration can cause migraine pain. Dehydration can also affect sinus symptoms. Sinus pain can also be a trigger for migraine pain.
Manage your triggers. Common triggers include: loud noises, bright lights, dehydration, strong or specific odors, and high altitudes. Other triggers may be consuming red wine, aged meats or cheese, dairy products, and gluten. Addressing food triggers is a critical step in treatment. I recommend that you take an IgG food sensitivity test. IgG is an immunoglobulin antibody found in the body. This test can help to determine if certain foods are causing your body to react in a negative way. Addressing any sensitivities and possible gut or gastrointestinal issues can be very helpful in treating migraine headaches. This step is often overlooked, although it may be one of the most important. Please seek assistance from a functional medicine doctor who specializes in headaches and gastrointestinal issues if your migraine symptoms are correlated with any food triggers.
Eliminate caffeine. This can be very tough because caffeine tends to be helpful in reducing initial symptoms. Chronic caffeine use (particularly in headache suffers) is known to cause rebound headaches (another sub classification of headaches). Rebound headaches occur when the same substance that helps to reduce symptoms will also cause the next headache to happen. Eliminating caffeine initially is difficult as it may trigger another headache. However, long term elimination of caffeine from your diet can be very effective in preventing migraine pain. Just watch out for over the counter (OTC) medications that contain caffeine as an active ingredient.

How to Treat when you’re experiencing a Migraine Headache:

Ice. Try using an ice pack either on the forehead, scalp or neck, and/or directly over the area with the worst symptoms. The rule for icing is to apply ice no more than twenty minutes per hour. Do not place the ice directly against the skin, especially if you are using a gel style Cold Pack. A bag of frozen peas can be ideal.
Caffeine. Although caffeine ultimately causes more harm than good for headache sufferers, it can be used in the short term to help to reduce symptoms.
Find a dark quiet area where you can rest, use a cold compress, and possibly perform meditation or box breathing.
Hydrate. Be sure you are properly hydrated as dehydration will make symptoms worse.
Do not exercise. Exercise is not advised during an actual migraine headache. However, it’s highly encouraged as a prevention method.
Medications. Be sure to use the medications properly as prescribed by your medical physician. The ultimate goal is to prevent headaches and lessen the dependency of medication use. During an actual migraine, the goal is to feel better fast so that you can work on these prevention techniques. Use the medications as a tool to help you progress through your treatment plan.

Migraine pain is a difficult to deal with and to treat. In almost all cases, successful treatment and management will be a multifactorial approach and differs for everyone. It’s important to hear from others on what works to help treat or prevent migraine pain, but don’t be discouraged if his/her treatment doesn’t work for you. Your goal is to devise a custom treatment plan that will work for YOU. Each person may progress differently, but many of the approaches are similar.

Be sure to work with medical professionals who you can talk to and trust in order to create a treatment plan. The focus of treatment should be on prevention and discovering what triggers your migraine headaches. Ideally, you will be able to reduce and/or eliminate the symptoms while optimizing your health. Medications should be thought of as short term tools to help you as you come up with a long term solution.

If you suffer from migraine headaches, which treatments have worked the best for you? Please share below.

Posted on Wednesday, August 24, 2016

Cluster Headaches, the “Suicide Headache”

Cluster headaches are sometimes referred to as the “suicide headache” because the pain can be so severe. They are rightfully named because they tend to occur in “clusters” for days or weeks at a time. They typically cause severe pain which lasts from 30 minutes to two hours, then diminishes or disappears. They can recur as frequent as a few minutes to hours or even up to a day or two later. Four or more cluster attacks may occur in one day, and these attacks can strike every day for weeks or months before going into a type of remission. During remission, no headaches occur for months (and sometimes, even years).

Cluster headaches are not something routinely dealt with in a physical therapy setting as the cause of the headache is typically not mechanical, nor is it associated with a trigger that would be amenable to physical therapy treatment. These headaches can be very frustrating as the cause of the headache is not entirely known which makes treatment difficult. In fact, experts are not entirely sure, but believe that the headaches are in some way associated with the hypothalamus (an area of the brain that controls body temperature, hunger, and thirst, and is associated with our internal biological clock).

Although cluster headaches are one of the most painful types of headaches, they are non-life threatening and rare (in general) when compared to other types of headaches. Cluster headaches are more common in men. People of African ancestry are twice as likely to suffer from cluster headaches when compared to Caucasian people. Cluster periods may be consistent and seasonal. For example, they may occur every spring or every fall.

Most people have episodic cluster headaches. In episodic cluster headaches, the headaches occur for one week to a year, followed by a pain-free remission period that can last as long as 12 months before another cluster headache develops.

Cluster Headache Symptoms include:

A headache that typically begins several hours after falling asleep and wakes you up at night.
You may initially experience a warning signal with a mild, aching sensation on one side of the head.
Nasal congestion.
Flushed face.
Severe pain that lasts minutes to hours which then dissipates only to repeat later that day or the next.
Pain is typically associated around one eye and/or one side of your head, but it can radiate to other parts of the head and neck area.
Excessive restlessness.
Forehead and facial sweating.
Redness in the same eye as the headache pain.

Treatment for Cluster Headaches

Unlike many other forms of headaches, cluster headaches have only a few known triggers. Learning to avoid these triggers is an important for prevention and in order to extend periods of remission. Consuming alcohol, experiencing a sudden rise in temperature, and exercising in hot weather are known to trigger attacks. In addition, so can the medication nitroglycerin.

Management of cluster headaches is typically through a neurologist. Medication is typically used to help to manage symptoms. Opioids and other pain relievers are often used. As with migraine suffers, medications from the Triptan family are utilized as well as a medication known as Octreotide, which is an injectable synthetic version of the brain hormone somatostatin.

Local anesthetics such as lidocaine are often given intranasally through nose drops or a spray and seem to be effective. Dihydroergotamine is also given intranasal. Other medications potentially used include:

Calcium channel blockers
Corticosteroids, such as prednisone
Lithium carbonate

Some have found that dosing with melatonin is also helpful in reducing the frequency of headaches.

Besides medication, oxygen therapy is frequently utilized as a form of treatment. This type of therapy involves inhaling 100% oxygen through a mask at a high rate of at least 12 liters a minute. The benefits are usually felt within 15 minutes of starting the treatment. For more information and a summary of the research on oxygen therapy and headaches, please refer to Is Oxygen Therapy Effective for Anything?

A nerve block is another treatment to consult with your physician about. A nerve block is performed by a physician who would inject a numbing agent and corticosteroid around the occipital nerve in the back of your head.

Cluster headaches require treatment from a qualified medical specialist such as a neurologist. If you or a loved one suffers from this condition, please seek treatment assistance right away.

Do you or a loved one suffer from cluster headaches? If so, which treatments have worked for you? Please share below.

Posted on Wednesday, August 17, 2016

9 Treatment Tips for a Sinus Headache

Poor air quality? Allergies? A cold? There are many reasons to get a sinus headache, but what treatments actually work? Discover treatment tips that can help to lessen the symptoms of a sinus headache and speed up your recovery.

Your sinuses are located along your forehead, behind the bridge of the nose and under your cheek bones. Sinuses are basically hollow air filled cavities. Typically, they are lined with a thin mucus layer. Their purpose is to help humidify and filter air. They may also affect the sound of our voice. Sinus cavities are present at birth, but do not fully develop until late in the teen years.

Sinus pain typically occurs due to an infection or allergy which affects the mucosal lining and causes it to become inflamed (leading to pressure and pain). This results in headache type symptoms. Sinus headaches are often found in conjunction with other types of headaches (particularly, tension and migraine type headaches). In many cases, sinus pain is the initial trigger that causes an associated tension and/or migraine headache.

Sinus headaches are typically easy to diagnose. Typical symptoms include:

Pain and pressure along the cheekbones, forehead, and/or bridge of your nose.
Palpation over top of the sinus cavities is usually painful.
Worsening pain when straining (increasing your blood pressure via the Valsalva maneuver).
Worsening pain when bending or leaning over.
Accompanying symptoms of illness or allergy including: a stuffy or runny nose; earache or feeling of fullness in your ears; fever; and/or swelling in your face.
Dizziness.

9 Treatment Tips for a Sinus Headache:

Address the cause of the headache and treat with medication (if necessary). If you are suffering from an allergy or cold symptoms, then taking medication (such as an antihistamine or decongestant) may be appropriate to help reduce the mucosal buildup in the sinus and help elevate the pressure. You might also consider an anti-inflammatory medication to help reduce the swelling in the mucosal lining. In the case of a sinus infection, an antibiotic may be indicated. Please speak with your medical physician regarding medication treatment options. (You may consider using natural decongestants as noted below.)
Eliminate allergens. Many sinus headaches are not caused by illness, but from an allergy. The most common irritants are airborne, but even food allergies or sensitivities can worsen symptoms. An example of this is a milk allergy. Milk products are often associated with increased mucous production in those with allergies or sensitivities. This can lead to build up in the sinus cavity.
Utilize hot and/or cold compresses. Another option is to utilize a hot and/or cold compress over the sinus cavities. It can help to reduce pain and help the cavities to start draining. People tend to have very strong feelings on their preference for heat or cold, so choose what works best for you. I personally have found that alternating between heat and cold every couple of minutes works well.
Use a Neti Pot to cleanse and protect your nasal passages. This treatment has been around a long time. Essentially, you fill the Neti Pot with a warm fluid (typically, saline solution). Tilt your head and slowly pour the liquid into your nose so it can circulate into the sinus and then out the other side to help clear them of congestion. It’s basically a form of nasal irrigation.
Stay upright. Lying down on your back or especially your stomach especially tends to worsen symptoms because of the anatomy of the sinus cavities. Using gravity by remaining upright or staying semi-reclined can help the sinus cavities to remain clear.
Self massage. Gentle self massage around the sinus cavity can also be helpful. I typically advise the massage before and after utilizing either the hot/cold compresses or before and after using the Neti Pot. The technique is simple. Just slowly and gently massage over top of the sinus cavities. Initially, make small circles and finish with small swiping motions out and away from the cavity toward the ears and hairline. This should not be painful. If the pain worsens, then discontinue.
Use a humidifier. One of the purposes of the sinuses is to humidify the air you breathe. It’s important to not let the mucosal layer dry out. A humidifier can be very helpful in the treatment of sinus symptoms and may also be helpful in preventing symptoms if this is a chronic problem for you.
Use natural decongestants. Using essential oils or vapor rubs products that contain mint or menthol can be very helpful in temporally opening up the sinus cavities. Many are inhaled (by combining with a humidifier) or applied topically. In the case of topical application, the sensation of the product may also help with pain. Just be sure to follow the instructions and keep away from direct contact on the mucosal lining and your eyes.
Address other associated headache symptoms. Sinus headaches tend to trigger other types of headaches, so you will likely need to treat not only the sinus symptoms but also any other headache symptoms that occur. Generally, headaches are classified into four or five different categories. There are many potential sub categories as well. Please refer to Q & A: What Causes Headaches?

We are all likely to suffer from sinus headache symptoms at one time or another. Using these treatment tips can help to lessen the symptoms and speed up your recovery. If you are chronically experiencing sinus headache symptoms, it’s important to determine the cause and work on preventing symptoms. For those who experience chronic symptoms, addressing food sensitivities will be an important component to long term management.

What is your go-to remedy when treating a sinus headache? Please share your tips!

Posted on Wednesday, August 10, 2016

Q & A: What Causes Headaches?

Q. Several members of my family frequently get headaches. Thankfully, I rarely get them, but what causes headaches? Why do some people get them and others do not? Thanks, Ben! -Brad

A. Thanks for your question, Brad! Headaches are a very complicated subject. I will do my best to answer your question from a physical therapist’s perspective.

Headaches can range from mild to severe with symptoms varying wildly. Approximately 15-20% of the population will suffer from headaches at any given time. It’s one of the top medical ailments for which people seek treatment. Headache suffers are also one of the most heavily marketed to group. There are no shortage of scammers and snake oil salespeople trying to sell you the next great remedy to cure your headaches.

Although there are many potential sub categories of classifications a person could use (particularly, within the tension class), I tend to classify headaches in one of five categories: tension; cervicogenic; sinus; migraine; and cluster.

Classifications of Headaches:

Tension

These are the most common type of headache. These headaches are often related to tension in the muscles of the head, neck and jaw and are frequently stress related. The actual physical cause is still not fully understood, but it’s likely linked to how the brain and nervous system perceives muscular pain and stress.

Tension headaches are categorized as either episodic (meaning that you experience less than 15 headaches per month) or chronic (meaning that you experience more than 15 per month). Women tend to experience them more often than men. Many food or environmental factors can trigger tension or migraine headaches. Food and environment triggers for headaches could easily be a classification of their own.

Please refer to Prevention and Treatment Strategies for Tension Headaches.

Cervicogenic

Not everyone would say this is a separate class of headache, but I tend to classify cervicogenic headaches separately. Cervicogenic headaches are often associated with tension type headaches. There can be a lot of overlap with tension headaches, but in this class the underlying cause of the headache is from the cervical spine. There are many pain generating structures in the cervical spine. A few potential causes could be nerve related, trigger points, facet joint or cervical mal-alignment related, or cervical disc related. I find that postural dysfunction tends to go hand in hand with this type of headache as well as in tension headaches.

Cervicogenic headaches tend to be found more often found in women. This seems to be primarily due to the anatomical differences of men versus women. Men tend to have more muscular necks while women tend to have more long and slender necks with less muscle to provide support to the head (meaning that there is less muscle strength for support).

Please refer to Cervicogenic Headaches: A Real Pain in the Neck (and Head).

Sinus

Your sinuses are located on your forehead, behind the bridge of the nose and under your cheek bones. In cases of infection or allergy, the mucosal lining will become inflamed and causes pressure and pain. This results in headache type symptoms. Pain is often worse when bending over or straining.

Other than headache type pain, you may also be suffering from other symptoms of illness including a stuffy or running nose, earache or fever. Sinus headaches are often a trigger to other types of headaches such as tension and migraines.

For more information, please refer to 9 Treatment Tips for a Sinus Headache.

Migraine

Migraine pain is the second most common type of headache (with tension/cervicogenic type headaches being the most common). Up to 16-17% of the population complains of migraines. These headaches can be far more debilitating than the typical tension/cervicogenic type headache. Migraine pain is often in combination with tension headache pain. Migraines can also be caused by menstruation or hormonal imbalances.

Frequently, people will classify any type of severe headache pain as a migraine although it may or may not actually be the case. The severity of pain is not what leads to a migraine classification, but which symptoms are present.

Symptoms of a migraine will differ for everyone. Initial symptoms and patterns may occur one to two days prior to the actual migraine.

Typical symptoms may include:

Throbbing pain on one side of the head (but pain can be present on both sides)
Pain behind the eyes
Difficulty performing typical activities which worsen with activity or heat
Nausea
Vomiting
Sensitivity to light, noise, and smell

Less common symptoms may also include: difficult with speaking; tingling in the face, arms, and hands; and short term upper body weakness.

Migraines are more commonly found in women. Like tension headaches, migraines are often associated with known varying triggers like food, smells, excessive heat, fatigue, and dehydration.

Please refer to How to Prevent and Treat Migraine Headaches.

Cluster

This type of headache tends to appear in cycles (clusters) which last hours to days. By most accounts, these are the most painful type of headache. Typically, cluster headaches present with a sudden onset and usually subside as quickly as they start.

These headaches are the least common and only affect approximately 1% of those who suffer from headaches. The first onset for this type of headache is usually between 20-30 years old.

Please refer to Cluster Headaches, the “Suicide Headache” for more information.

When to Seek Emergency Care:

Although most headaches do not require emergency medical attention, the following signs and symptoms indicate when to seek emergency care.

If you have any of these signs or symptoms, please seek emergency care:

Abrupt, severe headache
Severe unrelenting pain
Headache with a fever; stiff neck; mental confusion; seizures; double vision; weakness, numbness; and speaking difficulties
Headache after a head injury (especially, if the headache gets worse)
Muscle weakness/paralysis and/or face drooping (signs of a CVA)

How to Determine the Cause and Design an Effective Course of Treatment:

The symptoms of headache pain are nearly as diverse as the causes of headache pain. Regardless of the onset whether sudden (such as from an injury, from a fall or motor vehicle accident) or more subtle and chronic, there are few aspects of care that are important for all headache suffers to consider.

Start a headache log or diary. I always recommend beginning the process by keeping a diary in order to determine the most likely culprits prior to working on less common scenarios. There are many obvious and common potential causes to address first. Sometimes, it takes some serious detective work to rout out the cause and design an effective course of treatment. The patterns noted in the diary will be clues to guide you down the right treatment path. Don’t perseverate over every little detail of your headaches, but you need an accurate account of frequency and triggers.
Look for patterns. Try to establish patterns to the headaches. When do they occur? Do certain foods trigger the headache? Which activities will cause a headache? What makes the symptoms better or worse? Are they associated with certain movement patterns, activities or even certain times of the day or month?
Which treatments work for you? Everyone has his/her preferred cure, but what really works for you? Don’t feel bad if someone else’s cure doesn’t work for you as we are all different.
Leave no stone unturned. When looking for patterns, consider all aspects including: food, medications, and supplements. Also, consider your living environment. Could there be mold in the home? Other unknown allergens? How is your micronutrient status? Dental issues?

Don’t give up hope! Headache pain is difficult to manage, but with proper care most headache pain can be cured or effectively managed. The most frequent mistake I see people make is to not stick with a thorough plan. Jumping around from one treatment to another rarely works.

With severe and/or chronic headache pain, a very thorough and specific plan of addressing all aspects of your health and wellbeing will need to be addressed for long term success. This process can be slower than desired, but when executed properly, it will almost always leads to significant success.

Thanks, Brad, for the question! I hope you and your family members find this information helpful and that they are able to experience some relief from headache pain! Stay tuned as I will profile typical self-treatment strategies for each type of headache in upcoming posts.

Do you or a loved one suffer from headaches? Which treatments have worked the best for you? Please share your experience. Together we can all grow and learn how to best manage this condition.

The Physical Therapy Advisor

Empowering You to Reach Your Optimal Health!

Category Archives: Headaches