Headaches, What are the Root Causes?

Have you ever had a headache, or do you suffer from chronic headaches? A headache is a type of pain within any head region, which may occur suddenly, gradually, and last for hours or days. A headache is nonspecific but instead tells our body that there is something that needs further attention. It serves as an alarm for a “Check In.” Often, a headache is related to a neurological issue, genetics (such as migraine), a medical condition (diabetes, high blood pressure), certain medications, foods, or lifestyle issues.

Almost half of adults have experienced at least a headache within the past year, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). Headaches, however, have been underestimated and most often need proper treatment. Barriers to effective treatment include lack of knowledge, trivializing the condition, and fully understanding its financial burden on society (WHO). According to the National Institute of Medicine (NIH), headaches are the most common complaint for missed school and work days and the reason for a doctor’s visit. 

Headache disorder occurs when the headache is recurrent, causing a personal, social, debilitating, and financial burden that can negatively impact a person’s quality of life. Many individuals with headache disorders are never diagnosed or treated (WHO). An individual needs to seek help if a headache starts to become burdensome. 

 There are different causes and types of headaches, including the following (NIH)-

  1. Migraine- may last from 4 -72 hrs, may experience increased sensitivity to light, noise, odors, nausea, and vomiting.
  2. Tension-type headache- most common, muscle tightness-face/neck/jaw
  3. Cluster headache- often occurring in “clusters” at about the same time each day and night, episodic or chronic, usually centered around the eyes.
  4. Any particular disorder does not necessarily cause miscellaneous primary headaches.

Proper treatment first starts with a good evaluation by a trained healthcare professional. 

Education is also paramount to help individuals feel more empowered about this issue.

*Medications may include analgesics, specific migraine medications, antiemetics, and lifestyle changes.

*Adding magnesium supplements to your regimen has been known to help.

*Avoiding certain foods such as the following may help – aspartame sweeteners, excess cheese/yogurt, foods with Monosodium glutamate (MSG), and certain food preservatives such as in processed meats, yeast, alcohol, or caffeine.

*Environmental factors – stress and lack of sleep

Proper treatment can improve an individual’s quality of life.

Like a physical headache, a spiritual headache can also occur in our lives, leading to a lack of clarity, focus, brain fog, and not knowing which way to go. Either way, we must seek help from a trained clinician and, ultimately, “Our Master,” who can properly diagnose, treat, and help us find our way back to health.

If you are dealing with headaches, feel free to contact us at

See Also

www.livingwellhealthcareclinic.com for further evaluation. 

#totalwellbeing

#myjam – Check out one of my favorite magnesium supplements here that can help with headaches – https://bit.ly/3cJyvEI


References

National Institute of Medicine – https://www.ninds.nih.gov/health-information/disorders/headacheWorld Health Organization – https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/headache-disorders

Chinedu Okafor

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