I have a headache!

 

Headaches. Almost no one escapes it. We've all had a headache. This is also one of the first reasons for medical consultation and the diagnosis is not easy. What caused my headache? Well, classically, there are three main groups of headaches.

1. Tension headaches: they are very frequent and are due to fatigue and/or so-called psychic tension (stress, anxiety). Psychic tensions cause exaggerated muscle contractions in the neck and shoulders which cause radiating pain in the head. Tension headaches can become chronic. Acupuncture relieves this type of headache very well. Treatments can be given in emergency (a headache that won't budge) and in prevention and consist in undoing muscular AND psychic tensions (you can click here to see the September newsletter on stress).

2. Migraines: they affect 5 to 10% of the population. Their cause is unknown but a familial plot frequently exists. They are intense, throbbing, localized in the middle of the skull and often associated with digestive disorders such as nausea and vomiting. Aggravated by noise, light and physical activity, they can last from a few hours to several days. Here, acupuncture can help reduce the frequency, intensity and persistence of migrainesallowing less strong medication to take effect faster and more effectively. A series of treatments is recommended.

3. Symptomatic headaches: they are not in themselves a disease, but a symptom of an organic condition such as an eye condition (glaucoma), ENT (sinusitis, otitis, allergies), dental or rheumatological (osteoarthritis). They can also be due to high blood pressure, poisoning, fever, taking certain medications as well as trauma (concussion) and an aneurysm. As with tension headaches, acupuncture provides good relief. However, it is important here toclearly define the level of urgencysince for some conditions, hospital emergency departments would be more appropriate. Once the emergency has been identified, passed and under control, acupuncture is recommended to optimize the healing process.   Happy October!

 

Reference: Larousse Medical