Many clients suffer from tension headaches or migraines. Often, it is difficult to differentiate between the two and the pain can be all-consuming.
What are Tension Headaches?
- Up to 63% of men and up to 86% of women experience tension headaches.
- Chronic tension headaches occur in 3% of people.
- There is a family history in 40-50% of these headache sufferers.
- Tension headaches often begin in early adulthood.
- 004% of all headaches are due to a serious problem.
What a Tension Headache Feels Like
- Pain is on both sides of the head, diffuse and constant. The pain can be described as dull or vise-like.
- Pain is felt in the neck, forehead, back of the head, shoulders and potentially into the jaw.
- The Duration of the headache varies from 30 minutes to weeks. Chronic tension headaches last for more than 15 days.
- These headaches typically begin in the afternoon after tight muscles have been activated.
- Potential associated symptoms: muscle tenderness and stiffness, loss of appetite, nausea, vertigo and ringing in the ears.
- Aggravating factors for tension headaches include stress, fatigue, cold temperatures, low blood sugar, poor posture, and decreased range of motion in head and neck.
What are Migraines?
- 25% of women and 8% of men are affected by migraines.
- There is a family history in 70% of the sufferers.
- These headaches can begin in childhood, adolescence, or early adulthood.
- Migraines affect 5% of children.
- In early childhood more boys are affected and in adolescence more girls are affected.
What a Migraine Feels Like
- The pain is usually pulsating and of moderate to severe intensity.
- Pain is on one side of the head 60% of the time and often begins as a dull ache or sensation of pressure which gradually localizes to one place. Intensity then increases over several minutes or hours.
- Pain locations can include on the sides of the head, neck, ears and behind the eyes.
- Physical exertion may worsen symptoms.
- Frequency is rarely greater than once per week.
- Symptoms last for 4-72 hours.
- The onset of migraines is variable, with early morning onset being the most common.
- Potential associated symptoms: muscle soreness, hypersensitivity to light (photophobia) or sound (phonophobia), temporary vision loss, seeing spots or flashing lights, autonomic nervous system dysfunctions (nausea, vomiting, diarrhea), cold extremities and sweating.
- Usually, the headache resolves over several hours during sleep or rest. However, there may be vomiting or intense emotional release abruptly ending the migraine.
Here Are a Few Things That You Can do at Home to Help With Your Headache Pain!
If you need additional information, a consult or help managing your headaches then please feel free to reach out to one of our team members at Harbourview Therapy!