Headache Strategies

Many things can trigger headaches. Some common headache causes include: muscle tension, caffeine withdrawal, sinusitis (congestion),  lack of sleep, constipation, spinal misalignment, food and seasonal allergies, as well as many other factors.

Most commonly, neck muscles that are tense, will cause headaches after you are under stress, sitting for long periods of time, bad posture, or in a high-impact incident that would jolt the neck (i.e. car accident).

Know of any other headache causes? Please post them in the comments section!

Headaches caused by muscles are known as tension headaches, they are caused by tension in muscles from perhaps a car accident, stress, or anxiety.

Muscles in the neck and back commonly experience this during whiplash in a car accident. Whiplash is a severe tensing of the neck muscles from a jolt that will trigger nerve-endings and cause headaches until the tension in removed often from massage therapy and heat.

Yes, sinus headaches are caused by the inflammation of the sinus cavities in the face. Sinus headaches are focused, dull pain, around the nose  and often worsen with certain movements of leaning forward and bending the head.

Regular headaches may be caused from a number of factors and occur often in the upper head, temples, and sometimes are focused on one side. Other types of headaches are often treated with an over-the-counter pain reliever whereas sinus inflammation is often an infection and prescribed an antibiotic.

Natural cures for sinus headaches include eating jalepenos (spicy foods will help drain the sinuses), and herbs such as eucalyptus and peppermint may relieve pain and prevent sinus problems in the future. Sinus headaches should be reviewed by a physician if symptoms worsen due to risk of further health problems if left untreated.

The most common type are tension headaches, these are caused by tensing of the muscles around the neck and upper chest due to stress or physical strain,these are characterized by a pain starting at the base of the neck and working up the scalp. Sinus headaches are generally a dull pain in and around the nose that is caused by congestion from a cold or flu, allergies; sinus headaches must be treated to prevent a more serious condition. The most painful types of headaches are vascular headaches. Vascular headaches are caused by blood sugar changes, high blood pressure, and include migraines, they are characterized by local and sharper pain that can be worsened by light, sound, and even smell and cause high sensitivity and pain that may result in fainting or vomiting.

If you have not experienced those headaches or they occur more often after a car accident it is possible the headache(s) is caused by the accident. In many car accidents, your head and body are jolted and the neck muscles, specifically the SCM (sternocleiodomastoid) muscle, tense up and trigger headache-inducing nerves to continually backfire until the tension is removed.

Massage therapy and heat is very effective for these types of tension headaches but may take months of therapy to completely go away. Special oils, including peppermint and wintergreen, can be used while massaging the neck and back to further stimulate recovery. If the headaches continue, seek professional advice from a chiropractor or acupressure therapist.