Headache Types:
Migraine Headaches
Technically, a migraine headache is defined as a headache of one side of the head. Nausea, vomiting and visual disturbances are very common with migraines. There are two major types of migraines:
Classical Migraines: approximately 10-15% denoted by "Aura"
Common Migraines: roughly 85% headaches without "Aura"
The headaches (as most types) may be "triggered" (not caused) by blood sugar changes, hormonal changes, stress and fatigue.
Migraines begin anytime in life, however the teen years mark the start for many sufferers. Up to 10% of all men and up to 20% of all women have experienced or do suffer frequently from migraines. It has been estimated that up to 23 million people in the United States are chronic migraine sufferers.
One may be signaled of an oncoming migraine by brightly colored lights, or an "Aura" as commonly referred to. The headache can last from eight hours to three days. There may be a dull ache, or a severe "ice pick" disabling pain which often begins behind one eye or temple. Usually migraine sufferers seek a quiet, dark place to rest.
Migraines cost individuals and families significantly in lost productivity, and quality of life with family. The technology, through Atlas Orthogonal procedures now exists to significantly improve and even correct these conditions. Details and self help instruction can be found in the book "Live Beyond Headaches."
Tension Headaches
Roughly 75% of all chronic headaches fall into this category.
There are two types of Tension headaches: Acute and Chronic
Acute headaches are temporary and are alleviated by rest, relaxation or common over the counter medications.
Chronic headaches are noted by frequent episodes, even continual headaches daily are not uncommon. They do not respond readily as Acute headaches and more aggressive measures are needed. Most analgesics have become virtually useless, however the Atlas Orthogonal procedure has proven most effective.
Hormonal Headaches
Headaches clearly can be triggered by changes in body chemistry. Factors that can changes ones body chemistry would include stress, dietary fluctuations, and menstrual changes.
Note; that we use the word "trigger" rather than "cause" headaches. The observation is widely agreed that people miss a meal yet no headache is triggered, stress is often encountered with no headache and even women with a long history of menstrual headaches can have their cycle without the onset of a headache. Why?
Because on these occasions the underlying cause is absent. Headaches are not caused by your mind, your stress level or diet. However these factors can look like they are the very cause, simply because they are actually the trigger for headaches in most people.
Cluster Headaches
The pain from cluster headaches is reported to be as bad as any type of pain people can endure. These headaches are known to be the most painful type of headache. They are vascular in origin and occur in less than 1% of true headache patients. Cluster headaches are more common among men by approximately five times.
Eyes can turn red, nostrils plug up then run, pain can be so intense that while patients experience the headache they can become almost suicidal.
Sinus Headaches
Many people (including doctors) misdiagnose migraine or cluster headaches as a sinus headache. Actual sinus headaches occur in a very small fraction of the population and must be accompanied with nasal drainage, runny nose and fever.
So why do so many headaches have sinus pain? It has to do with referred pain. Have you known a person who had a kidney infections who had back pain, or perhaps someone had a cardiac problem and their left arm hurt? These are examples of referred pain.
Sinus pain associated with headaches most likely have a mechanism through the 5th cranial nerve. Some involvement of this nerve can cause pain around the face, forehead, behind the eyes and sinuses.
The Common Denominator
Please read carefully now; the events and symptoms associated with various types of headaches as described above will trigger headaches, but they are not the cause. Women who have had headaches for two or three days the same time each month, certainly have good reason to believe that hormones can cause headaches. I would agree that personality, stress, hormones and other factors definitely play a contributing role in the continual productions of this frustrating condition.
But clinical evidence demonstrates that these factors do not cause the headaches. These factors that we've mentioned: hormones, personality and diet are simply contributing factors, they are triggers. If there is live ammunition in the firing chamber, and you pull on of those triggers, chances are you'll set off another headache. The "cause" was already in place.
The questions that need to be asked are: If hormones, stress, and diet are just triggers for setting off the headache...What is the live ammunition?
Why is it that someone can have a stressful day and be out of commission with head pain for two or three days, yet, the same person endures the same stress-filled day, two weeks later, and does not get a headache?
How is it that a woman will start her menstrual cycle...but the real cause of headache is not present on a particular month...so no headache? It's wonderful for these people when this happens...now, how can we make it happen more often?
What is the overwhelming "common" cause of 90+% of all headaches? Our clinical experience demonstrates that the patient with "stress headaches" has this in common with the patient who has "menstrual headaches". The patient with "migraines" has this in common with the patient who suffers from "cluster headaches". That common denominator is...
A condition called Atlas Neuro Vascular Syndrome which compromises the integrity between the brain and body and sets the state, (loads the chamber with live ammunition) and clinically is the underlying cause of 95% of all headaches.
