Headaches Specialist

What causes headaches?

Headaches occur when the nerves in your blood vessels and head muscles transmit pain signals to the brain. Usually, headaches are “primary,” meaning they are not symptoms of a separate, underlying issue, such as a tumor or glaucoma. Primary headaches are triggered by all sorts of stimuli, from foods to insomnia. Most of the time, primary headaches are connected to tension in the neck muscles. Headache pain ranges from annoying to debilitating. They account for the greatest number of days missed from work and school. The majority of headache suffers, 70%, are women, while some 20% of children and teens also suffer significant headaches.

Are there different types of primary headaches?

Primary headaches are usually classified by their symptoms. The most common types are:

• Tension headaches, which afflict the largest number of people, and are characterized by a bilateral, pressing or tightening pain that ranges from mild to moderate in intensity.
• Migraine headaches, which cause an extreme unilateral, throbbing pain, are often accompanied by nausea. Some migraines also cause ocular disturbances, called aura, which may include seeing flickering lights, zig-zag lines or spots.
• Cluster headaches, occur in a cycle or “cluster” and can last a couple of weeks up to a couple of months. These periods are followed by long stretches of remission. Pain is usually concentrated on one side of the head and can be intense. Often people who get cluster headaches are awakened form their sleep by the intense pain.

How does Dr. Inlow treat headache pain?

Dr. Inlow always begins by diagnosing the cause of each patient’s headache. Possible causes are numerous. They range from teeth clenching during sleep to sitting hunched over a computer all day. Once the reason is determined, Dr. Inlow works with each patient to create a customized treatment plan. It may entail one or multiple approaches. Among those commonly used are:

• Spinal manipulation or chiropractic adjustments
• Acupuncture
• Nutritional and diet advice
• Exercises
• Ergonomic adjustments (work postures)
• Relaxation techniques

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