HEADACHES

For those who suffer from chronic headaches their life is no longer normal. Headaches affect just about everyone at some point and they can present themselves in many different ways. Some people only experience pain in one part of their head or behind their eyes, some people experience a pounding sensation inside their whole head. Many headache sufferers experience nausea and visual disturbances, while others do not. The pain itself may be dull or sharp and may last for anywhere from a few minutes to a few days.  The good news is very few headaches have serious underlying causes, but those that do require urgent medical attention.

The International Headache Society has classified headache into three primary divisions, Primary, Secondary and Cranial Neuralgia/Facial Pain. Secondary Headaches and Cranial Neuralgias are rare but potentially serious in nature. These can be the result of a myriad of causes including tumors, stroke and infections. A thorough history, exam and appropriate testing is required to rule out this type headache.

Fortunately, the vast majority of headaches are not life threatening and are classified as Primary Headaches. Primary headaches are further subdivided into Migraine, Tension or Cluster Headaches.  Primary headaches can be due to a wide variety of causes, such as drug reactions from over medication, temporomandibular joint dysfunction (TMJ), low blood sugar, high blood pressure, stress and fatigue, food allergies, dietary insufficiency, postural faults, muscle spasm, vertebral subluxations and hormonal imbalances. Often patients present to our clinic suffering from more than one type of headache simultaneously. Additionally, that's because the typical headache is the result of not a single source but actually has multiple triggers. Let’s start out by taking a look at each of these three types of headaches.

Tension Headaches

Tension type headaches are the most common, affecting upwards of 75% of all headache sufferers. Most people describe a tension headache as a constant dull, achy feeling either on one side or both sides of the head, often described as a feeling of a tight band or dull ache around the head or behind the eyes. These headaches usually begin slowly and gradually and can last for minutes or days, and tend to begin in the middle or toward the end of the day. Tension headaches are often the result of stress or bad posture, which stresses the spine and muscles in the upper back and neck.

Tension headaches, or stress headaches, can last from 30 minutes to several days. In some cases chronic tension headaches may persist for many months. Although the pain can at times be severe, tension headaches are usually not associated with other symptoms, such as nausea, throbbing or vomiting.


Migraine Headaches

Each year about 25 million people in the U.S. experience migraine headaches, of which about 75% are women. Migraines are intense and throbbing headaches that are often associated with nausea and sensitivity to light or noise. They can last from as little as a few hours to as long as a few days. Many of those who suffer from migraines experience visual symptoms called an "aura" just prior to an attack that is often described as seeing flashing lights or that everything takes on a dream-like appearance.

Migraine sufferers usually have their first attack before age 30 and they tend to run in families, supporting the notion that there is a genetic component to them. Some people have attacks several times a month; others have less than one a year. Most people find that migraine attacks occur less frequently and become less severe as they get older.

Migraine headaches are caused by a constriction of the blood vessels in the brain followed by a dilation of blood vessels. During the constriction of the blood vessels there is a decrease in blood flow which is what leads to the visual symptoms that many people experience. Even in people who don’t experience the classic migraine aura, most of them can tell that an attack is immanent. Once the blood vessels dilate there is a rapid increase in blood pressure inside the head. It is this increased pressure that leads to the pounding headache. Each time the heart beats it sends another shock wave through the carotid arteries in the neck up to the brain.

There are many theories about why the blood vessels constrict in the first place, but no one knows for sure. What we do know is that there are a number of things that can trigger migraines, such as lack of sleep, stress, flickering lights, strong odors, changing weather patterns and several foods; but especially foods that are high in an amino acid called ‘tyramine.’ You can reduce the likelihood of migraine headaches by making some lifestyle changes.

Cluster Headaches

Cluster headaches are typically very short in duration, excruciating headaches, usually felt on one side of the head behind the eyes. Cluster headaches affect about 1 million people in the United States and, unlike migraines, are much more common in men. This is the only type of headache that tends to occur at night. The reason that they are called ‘cluster’ headaches is that they tend to occur one to four times per day over a period of several days. After one cluster of headaches is over it may be months, or even years, before they occur again. Like migraines cluster headaches are likely to be related to a dilation of the blood vessels in the brain, causing a localized increase in pressure.

The Headache Clinic at First Health

While naming your headache can be done relatively easily, successful treatment is really about discovering the cause of your headaches, and because headaches have so many possible causes this can be challenging at times. The truth is there is typically no one common cause of your headache but a myriad of small pieces in a very large puzzle.

Our team of integrative care specialists expands the boundaries of Traditional Medicine by bringing together conventional headache medications with the services of physical therapists, acupuncturists, dietitians, behavior counselors, herbalists and chiropractors. We offer our patients both the latest and the oldest treatment options known.

At First Health we’ve combined a team of professionals, each highly qualified and passionate about what they do. Unlike other treatment facilities and hospitals, you will find a comprehensive and integrative approach to treating headaches – all under one roof.

How Do I Become A Patient

Because we are multispecialty treatment center you as a patient have treatment options. You have the ability to pick a doctor or therapist that specializes in traditional or alternative medicine. However, most patients find that the best results come from a team approach. That’s because headaches seldom come from one cause.

Our headache team is lead by Jason Gruss, MD, and the best place to start is with our medical department. Dr Gruss is a member of the National Headache Foundation and the American Headache Society. While we do practice conventional medicine, we believe that medicine is only one small option. In fact you’ll find our approach a little different because our goal is to rid you of medications.

When you visit the Headache Clinic at First Health your care begins with a thorough history and physical examination. Based on our findings you will be guided to the providers who are best suited for your type headache. After our team evaluations are completed we conference, set goals for your improvement and layout a detailed treatment plan that’s designed specifically for you.



It all starts with a simple phone call . . . haven’t you suffered enough?

MEMBERS:
The American Headache Society
National Headache Foundation
American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
Academy of Academic Physiatrists
American Physical Therapy Association
Illinois Physical Therapy Association
American Dietetic Association
American Chiropractic Association
Illinois Chiropractic Association
American Counseling Association
Illinois Counseling Association
Illinois Association of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine