Why are you having headaches a lot? This should help.
As promised, I’ve spent the last few days writing a new Headache factsheet for you in the A-Z. There are a couple of links to add in yet, but it’s mostly all there for you. And it’ll probably evolve over time – as all my factsheets do! Here’s a bit to start you off…
Tension Type Headache
Most headaches are actually a form of tension-type headache. These are the ones that feel like a ‘band around the head’, a tight, pressure-like feeling, often with tight muscles in the neck and face too. They’re not so much pulsating or throbbing, but can feel pretty intense. They usually respond well to painkillers and to massaging the neck, shoulders and temples.
Is it migraine? If your headache is more on one side of the head, you have an increased sense of smell, light or sound is getting to you, you feel nauseous or are having visual symptoms, like an aura, it’s much more likely a migraine. Even more so if it is limiting your ability to work or live as you would normally.
The most common type is termed ‘episodic’ headaches – ad hoc ones. If you are having this kind of headache more than 15 days a month for 3 months consecutively, though, it is termed ‘chronic‘.
What causes headaches?
There’s no lab test for headaches as such, although there are plenty to help you try and find the triggers and causes.
Most people think headaches are caused by stress, but that’s not always the case at all; it’s more often metabolic. The most common causes are emotional stress, of course, but also food sensitivity (I see this A LOT), dehydration, low blood sugar (again, A LOT), exertion or exercise, electrolyte imbalance, too much alcohol or caffeine and lack of sleep.
If they’ve gone chronic, this is where you really need to find a likely metabolic cause…
You can continue reading it here. Get yourself a cuppa as it’s quite long. I go through the main types of headaches – tension, sinus, thyroid, menstrual etc etc – discuss causes, what to look for if they keep happening and suggest some treatment strategies for you, even some videos on how to release tight fascia and trigger points. Oh yes. Thorough is my middle name. Well, it’s not really, obvs. You’ll never guess what it really is.
Anyway, it took a lot of time and precis skills to distil it down into practical, useable info that should really help you or your loved ones. I am now lying in a darkened room with peppermint balm on my temples, recovering 😉
Sharing all the knowledge and good stuff after 30 years in-clinic with thousands of patients just like you. If using Natural Dispensary, please use Micki Rose during registration when prompted, or via Amrita, use 4Y2AE7. If you become a newsletter subscriber, you will get a list of discount codes to use too, cos I’m nice like that 🙂