Wait, there are four different types of headaches?! Who knew! I just know that when my head hurts, I want it to stop. I’ll bet you’re the same way. I can personally attest that headaches can ruin your day (and if you suffer from migraines, even longer …)

Curious about what kind of headache you might be suffering from? Here’s a list to help you sort it out:

• Tension headache
• Migraine
• Toxic headache
• Exertion headache

TOXIC headache? What in the name of a bunny tail is THAT?! Don’t worry, I’ll give y’all a quick explanation of each type, along with some things you can do to avoid them. Read on, my friend, read on.

Tension Headache

It may seem obvious – these are headaches caused by tension – but the type of tension that causes this one might surprise you. It’s not just “I forgot to pay my cell phone bill” tension. It could also be tension from anxiety, teeth grinding, prolonged difficult manual labor, or emotional stress. Basically, life in general, can cause a tension headache.

Tension headache usually present as a “tightness” right around the temples; they’re what most people “expect” when you hear the word headache. Generally, the tension headache is mild-moderate, and most people aren’t surprised if get one when they’re stressed out about something. They’re also the type of headache that would have people pop a couple of pills to find relief, but there are other ways to alleviate the pain. If an occasional headache becomes daily, it may be a drug-rebound headache, the result of overuse of pain relievers.

Two of the best ways to mollify a tension headache include massage and chiropractic treatments, which can realign your spine, allowing for better blood flow. Optimized blood flow improves oxygenation of the brain, which is always a good idea! Another good idea: relax with your head slightly elevated in a dark room with a warm compress to the forehead or back of the neck to sooth aching muscles.

Migraine

Migraine headache has been defined as: pain in the head caused by inflammation or irritation of structures that surround the brain or affect its function.[i] Huh? Okay, here’s what that means in a nutshell: the brain actually has no pain nerve fibers, so everything else above the shoulders, from the neck, skull, and face, can cause a person to have head pain. Great. Thanks, brain. Migraines can include symptoms other than just “an ache in the head,” though. Many migraine sufferers also deal with nausea, light sensitivity, scent aversion, limb weakness, and even visual disturbances (“auras”). The pain associated with a migraine headache is caused by the dilation of blood vessels, but what causes the dilation remains a mystery. One theory is that blood vessels may overreact to triggers such as stress. It has been suggested that this reaction narrows some arteries, and that other arteries open up to get more oxygen to the brain, which causes the release of pain-producing prostaglandins.[ii] 

As I type, I can almost hear all of the migraine sufferers reading this saying, “Yeah, yeah, lady. Get on with it. What do I do about it?” Migraines are a tricky thing to treat. There are so many facets to these nasty buggers. Generally, most folks start out with the usual: acetaminophen or ibuprofin, heat applied to the shoulders & neck, massage, and chiropractic care. If the pain becomes so intense or so regular that you can’t think of the last time you were pain-free, many people find a neurologist who specializes in migraines. 

My daughter and I both suffer from migraines. Mine have been controlled (to the point where I can’t remember the last time I had a migraine) with regular chiropractic care and proper hydration. Since my daughter is still growing, I took her to a neurologist to calm my Mama brain (“TUMOR!!” was my natural first response when she had her first migraine at 9 years old). To quote Arnold Schwarzenegger from Kindergarten Cop,[iii] “It’s not a tumor.” With regular chiropractic care, her migraines have lessened in intensity and regularity, so needless to say, I am a fan, and highly recommend Gulph Mills Chiropractic Center for migraine relief. The one thing that I’ve noticed is that you can’t just go to the chiropractor when you have a headache; you need to have a schedule, or else your headaches will just continue to plague you. Once your spine is properly aligned, the length of time between your trips to the chiropractor will increase. When I first started chiropractic care, I had an appointment weekly. After about a month, Dr. Roger said we should test out a longer span between appointments. Not wanting to suffer from the agony of a migraine again, I reluctantly agreed to an appointment every two weeks. I had a small setback in the beginning (not quite a migraine, but on day 10, I had a headache – and I panicked), so that first week, I came back after 10 days. After that, once every two weeks was perfect. After a couple of months, Dr. Roger said I should try monthly. Now, I have my monthly maintenance adjustment and I haven’t had a migraine in ages. 

Toxic

Okay, you’ve waited long enough … here’s the explanation for a toxic headache. Toxic headaches are brought about by changes to other parts of your body, as well as the brain. People with systemic illnesses, including infection or dehydration, can experience associated headaches. Toxic headaches can also be caused by changes in circulation, blood flow, trauma, and changes in brain chemistry.  Changes in brain chemistry include medication reactions, drug abuse and drug withdrawal. [iv]  My first reaction to this definition was, “Yikes. How does a person manage this?” So I did some research. 

A trend you will notice in the next couple of paragraphs is that the word “doctor” occurs frequently – take the hint. After reading several articles, the first thing that jumped out at me was that keeping a headache journal would probably be helpful, because you’re likely going to need to see a doctor - who will ask you 20 questions about how (your headaches manifest, much water you drink, long do they last), when they happen, what (you ate, meds you took, other factors you think may have triggered your headache). 

There are several factors that can contribute to a toxic headache, so if you think you’re suffering this type of headache, be sure to go to a doctor! I am not a doctor, nor do I profess this article to be the end-all be-all of treatment ideas for headaches; I’m just trying to find ways to help y’all kick your headaches. 

You may want to try chiropractic first, since a misaligned spine might be the root cause of your headaches, no matter the type. If you know you have high blood pressure or other circulatory disorder, make sure you have it under control (i.e. see a Primary Care doctor). If you’ve experienced a physical trauma, hopefully you’ve already been to a doctor, but if the headaches are new, check with the doc. If you’re on a new medication, or if your dosage has changed, tell your Primary Care doctor about your headaches. 

Exertion

Exertion headaches happen quickly after periods of intense physical activity. Weight lifting, running, and dancing are all common triggers for an exertion headache. It makes sense, as  activities like these cause increased blood flow to your skull, which can lead to a throbbing headache on both sides of your head. An exertion headache doesn’t usually last too long. This type of headache usually resolves within a few minutes or at the very worst, if combined with dehydration, several hours. Generally, drinking water and resting will improve your circumstances. If you develop exertion headaches often after exercising, check in with your doctor. In some cases, they may be a sign of a serious underlying medication condition. Usually, it’s just a subluxation (a misalignment of your vertebrae), so visiting your chiropractor can take care of that pretty quickly. 

So there you have it: four types of headache and what you can do to combat them. 

Basically, I took away a few key points from my research: 

• If you experience headaches on a regular basis, don’t forget to tell your Primary and Specialist doctors about your headaches – they could be pointing to an underlying condition.
• Drink plenty of fluids (and try to avoid sugary beverages). 
• Take a breath (or several, deep ones). Sometimes, stress messes with our heads – literally! I’m not a yoga person (apparently, you either are, or you aren’t), but learning how to breathe deeply is something we should all do. 
• If you’re noticing more frequent headaches, keep a journal of what you’re eating; you may have developed a food sensitivity. 
• Stick to a schedule of chiropractic to avoid headaches altogether! So much better than suddenly being in agony. Gulph Mills Chiropractic offers a complimentary Initial Assessment, including x-rays if you need them. Gulph Mills Chiropractic is located right across Allendale Road from the King of Prussia Mall – easy to get to and plenty of free parking. Call to schedule a complimentary assessment today: 484-751-5037.

[i] Medical Author: Benjamin Wedro, MD, FACEP, FAAEM, Medical Author: Danette C. Taylor, DO, MS, FACN, Medical Editor: Jay W. Marks, M: www.medicinenet.com/headache/article.htm

[ii] www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-families/health-news/don-t-lose-your-head-over-headache-480352.html

[iii] Kindergarten Cop. Dir. Ivan Reitman. Perf. Arnold Schwarzenegger, Penelope Ann Miller, Pamela Reed. Universal Pictures, 1990. DVD.

 [iv] https://www.healthline.com/health/headache/types-of-headaches#exertion-headaches