Why Does the Headache Hurt?

The cause of a headache is very rarely in the head. As with every pain, a headache is a call for help from the body. The nerves that mediate this call are the trigeminal nerve and the upper neck nerves, which receive the sensation of the head. These nerves are also aware of almost all functions in the body. Because they have functional connections with other cranial nerves and spinal nerves. In cases of problems anywhere in the body, especially in the half of the body above the navel, a signal is sent to these nerves. Depending on the depth of the problem, symptoms in the form of a headache occur.

What are the Causes of Headache?

If we count from top to bottom;

• Head-Throat and Face Area Problems: Sinus, eye, tooth, jaw joint, ear, tonsil problems are very common causes of headaches.
• Neck Problems: Hernia, calcification, nerve compression, joint blockages in the neck area are important causes of headaches.
• Intrathoracic Organ Problems: Organic and functional problems that may occur in the lungs, heart, respiratory tract and esophagus may cause headaches.,
• Upper Abdominal Area Problems: Functional and organic problems that may occur in the liver, gallbladder, pancreas, stomach, duodenum and spleen may cause headaches.
• Lower Abdominal Area Problems: Small and large intestines, urinary tract and reproductive system problems may cause headaches.
• Organic problems that may occur in the central nervous system in the head may rarely cause headaches. However, in these cases, other findings such as vomiting, imbalance and double vision are usually accompanied. If such a situation occurs, it is necessary to consult a neurologist and have a brain MRI.

The reflection areas of organ problems in the head area are shown in the figure below. Chest area problems mostly cause pain in the front area of ​​the head, digestive problems in the top and side area, and large intestine and reproductive organs in the back area.

What are the Types of Headaches?

Around 220 types of headaches have been identified. The most common of these are tension headaches and migraines.

The severity of tension headaches increases slowly. The pain starts from the nape of the neck and occurs on both sides of the head; it can affect certain areas such as the forehead, temples or crown. Tension headaches are dull, pressing on the skull like a tight helmet. The pain lasts between half an hour and a few days. The most common type of headache is tension headache. Tension headache increases with epigenetic and environmental factors. It is a severe headache that occurs when the face, head and neck muscles are constantly tensed as a result of emotional stress such as excessive responsibility, disappointments, financial and family problems.

Migraine headaches can occur on average 1-6 times a month. A migraine attack usually lasts 4-72 hours. It starts slowly and mostly on one side, and can later spread to the other side. Migraine pain is defined as throbbing in the head area and is usually felt as moderate or very severe. Along with the headache, nausea, vomiting, and sensitivity to noise or light also accompany the headache. 10-15% of all migraine patients experience an aura before the pain attack, which may be accompanied by visual and auditory disturbances such as light lines in front of the eyes, tingling in the arms and legs, and difficulty finding words.

Migraine and tension-type headaches can occur together.

Cluster headaches are very severe pains that start unilaterally from the bottom of the eye and behind it. They are often accompanied by symptoms such as watering, redness, swelling, edema, and nasal congestion in the eyes. Cluster headaches become severe within a few minutes and usually last between 15 minutes and three hours. The exact cause of these headaches is not known, but alcohol, cigarette smoke, or excessive light can trigger attacks.

What Triggers Headaches?

Although there are factors that trigger each type of headache more often, in general, anything that creates stress in the body can trigger a headache. Psychological stress, insomnia, fatigue, nutritional disorders, excessive sweets, gluten, milk and animal protein rich diet, lack of exercise, drinking less water, vitamin and mineral deficiencies, accumulation of toxins such as heavy metals and acids in the body are the main triggers.

How is it Treated?

Although more than 220 types of headaches have been defined, since the cause is usually not found, painkillers, anti-depressants and anti-epileptic drugs are given. Triptan and ergotamine type drugs are usually given in migraine. These treatments only suppress the pain. When the effect wears off, the pain recurs because the cause does not disappear. The important thing is not to define the type of headache or to name the pain, but to identify the cause. Headaches are 99% secondary and usually result from functional problems. Therefore, determining the cause is only possible with functional tests. Functional problems that may cause headaches can be listed with methods such as Applied Kinesiology (AK), Heart Rate Variability (HRV), Microsystem Detection (MAPS) and can be treated with the following methods.

• Neural therapy: It is a method that can reset functional problems that may cause headaches and treat the cause of the pain. Treatment is continued with weekly examinations and sessions until the headache is completely gone. Significant reductions are usually seen in a few sessions, and the number of sessions required for permanent healing varies according to the degree of the person’s underlying problems, but generally does not exceed 6-7 sessions.
• Acupuncture: It is a very effective method for headaches. Ear and scalp acupuncture are very effective, especially in acute cases. However, since it may be insufficient to treat the interference areas, it should be applied together with neural therapy for permanent healing.
• Manual Therapy: It is very effective, especially in upper neck area blockages. Myofascial stretching also makes important contributions.
• Nutrition: The person’s intestinal flora, heavy metal and acid status should be evaluated, a personalized nutrition program should be organized, and if necessary, nutritional supplements and chelation protocols should be given. Drinking enough water is very important.
• Lifestyle: Time should be devoted to sports and rest. Pleasure stimulants such as cigarettes and alcohol should be reduced and, if possible, quit.