About Headaches
What Is A Headache?
A headache is a common ailment, but it’s essential to recognise that not all headaches are created equal. While some headaches are fleeting and easily manageable, others can be incredibly painful, debilitating and dramatically impact quality of life.
A headache is characterised by pain or discomfort in the head or upper neck region. These episodes can vary in intensity, duration, and frequency, making it crucial to understand the specific features associated with different types of headaches.
Headaches We Treat
Headache and Migraine conditions treated at this practice are NOT limited to the list above. Please contact our office for further information.
Headaches We Treat
More Information About Different Headaches
- Cervicogenic Headache
- Tension Type Headache
- Chronic Daily Headache
- Cluster Headache
- Sinus Headache
- Exercise Induced Headache
- Thunder Crack Headache
- Medication Overuse Headache
- Hormonal Headache
Cervicogenic Headache
A headache that is referred directly from structures in the upper neck. This is common and often overlaps with a variety of the headaches we have listed here. Our skilled assessment of the upper neck will determine whether it is playing a part in your headache presentation.
Tension Type Headache
Typically impacts the whole head or both sides. The pain is mild to moderate, constant or pressure-like. There may be mild sensitivity to light and noise and associate neck, jaw and shoulder pain.
Chronic Daily Headache
Occurring 15 or more times each month and can be either headache or migraine.
Cluster Headache
Pain strikes quickly without warning on one side of head/face. Typically excruciating pain, generally around one eye, pressure or vice-like, with excessive tearing of the eye on the affected side. Can occur in periods, 1-3 times/day, up to 45 mins each, lasting 6-12 weeks.
Sinus Headache
Presenting as pressure around eye, cheeks or forehead. The pain can be worse with bending forward or lying down. Often associated with a stuffy nose.
Thunder Crack Headache
Strikes suddenly with pain peaking within minutes of onset. This can be accompanied by nausea and/or vomiting.
Medication Overuse Headache
This is a complex and often misunderstood issue and is usually related to significant medication intake. Our practitioners work with your GP or other health professionals to help reduce your medication intake and rely on more natural approaches to deal with your headache pain.
Hormonal Headache
Predominantly a condition affecting women, these headaches usually come on just before or during a cycle and/or during ovulation. These can present as a typical tension-type headache but can also present as traditional migraine with one-sided severe pulsating head pain.
Headaches Frequently Asked Questions
What is a headache?
Headache is a pain located in the head, above the orbitomeatal (ear to eye) line and/or nuchal ridge (ridge above base of skull)
What causes a headache?
Headache can be caused as a secondary symptom due to another disorder or it can be caused by an independent pathomechanism in the body.
How do you treat a headache?
There is no one definite cure for headaches, however there are number of treatment options available.
Clinicians at Sydney Headache and Migraine Centre are Watson Headache® Certified Level 3 Practitioners or Level 4 Facilitators, addressing the underlying mechanical dysfunction in the upper neck and take a collaborative approach in conjunction with current research.
What types of headaches are there?
According to the international classification of headache disorders, headaches are classified as the primary headaches and the secondary headaches. Additionally, there is a separate part regarding neuropathies and facial pain and other headache disorders for headache presentations that does not fit in the current ICHD-3 Classification
Headaches can be caused by various issues such as bacterial meningitis, trauma, medication over-use and more. These are classified as secondary headaches, where headache is a secondary symptom due to another disorder.
Headaches can be also caused by an independent pathomechanisms in the body and these are primary type of headaches. Examples are migraines, tension type headaches or cluster headaches.
What’s the difference between a headache and migraine?
Migraine is a primary type of a headache, with complex neurological disorder. Headache refers to a state where a pain is located in the head.
Are headaches common?
Globally, headache disorders are top three most common neurological conditions for most age groups and estimated to affect approximately 40% of the global population.
How can headaches be treated?
There is no one definite cure for headaches, however there are number of treatment options available.
Clinicians at Sydney Headache and Migraine Centre are Watson Headache® Certified Level 3 Practitioners or Level 4 Facilitators, addressing the underlying mechanical dysfunction in the upper neck and take a collaborative approach in conjunction with current research.
Do headaches occur often?
Headache frequency can vary for each individual – a few times per year to daily frequency or constant.
Can headaches cause more serious problems?
This will depend on what type of headache it is. If this is of concern to you, it is recommended for you to see a medical professional to diagnose your headache. Headaches can cause personal suffering, impaired quality of life, financial burden, effects on social life and employment.
Are headaches serious?
This will depend on the underlying cause. If this is of concern to you, it is recommended for you to see a medical professional to diagnose you headache.
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