June is National Headache Month!

Most of us have had experience with headaches. In a survey conducted in 2015, 20.0% of women and 9.7% of men aged 18 years and above reported having a severe headache or migraine in the past 3 months.¹ According to the Migraine Research Foundation, around 39 million men and women in the U.S. experience migraines. Of these, around 4 million have at least 15 migraine days every month.² With the high prevalence of headache challenges, one would think that treatment would be well established. In fact, sources of headaches are still a very active area of research, and many current drug treatments were discovered almost accidentally.

Migraine headaches are one type of vascular (related to circulation) headaches with one or both sides of the head experiencing severe pain. Cluster headaches are also vascular and are related to elevated blood pressure. There are also muscle tension types of headaches- most commonly related to stress in the cervical, shoulder and jaw muscles.

What causes a headache? There is an incredible variety of new connections being researched. Some examples include relationships between microbes in the mouth and prevalence of headaches; the presence of high levels of a protein called calcitonin gene–related peptide, or CGRP, in the blood of a headache sufferer; high sodium levels in cerebrospinal fluid; and even immunotherapy to attack an inflammatory molecule. DNA and sleep patterns are also being studied.³

Much of headache management is aimed at prevention. There are many environmental and dietary triggers that have been identified that, when managed, can decrease the frequency and severity of headaches. Keeping a headache diary is often the first step in identifying those triggers. There are a few medications that are sometimes used to prevent severe and/or frequent headaches.

Other non-pharmaceutical treatment interventions include stress reduction, botox injections, biofeedback, and ergonomic improvement at work and home to decrease the mechanical stress to the head and neck. A physical therapist is specially trained to assess for these potential trigger sources. Manual therapy may be indicated to decrease muscle tension and joint restrictions. Acupuncture can also be an effective method of prevention and treatment of headaches for some.

Cutting edge and currently researched treatments are the very exciting monthly injections to block transmission of CGRP⁴, deep brain stimulation, and occipital nerve stimulation³ for chronic pain sufferers that don’t respond to other current interventions.

With such a high percentage of our population suffering from headaches, it is encouraging that there are both very helpful standard multidisciplinary treatments, and also ongoing research into the causes and potential superior treatments, especially for those who haven’t yet gotten relief.

If you or someone you know is currently experiencing chronic headaches, Live Your Life would love to help you manage your pain. Please contact us today to schedule your free consultation!

Alana Howey, PT, MS, OCS
Physical Therapist
Live Your Life^TM
Bringing Physical Therapy & Wellness to You!

Alana Howey, PT, MS, OCS graduated from Concordia College in Moorhead, MN in 1985 with a B.A. biology degree. She went on to study at Texas Woman’s University and graduated with a MS in physical therapy in 1987. She has over 25 years of practice in Minnesota. The bulk of her career she has been practicing in outpatient orthopedic physical therapy, treating a wide range of client ages and challenges. She developed a specialty in treating temporomandibular dysfunction, headaches and cervical dysfunction. She also applies a more holistic approach to rebalancing the entire body system with postural restoration for complex, multi-joint challenges. She received a board certification as a clinical specialist in orthopedics in 1999 and was recertified in 2009.

Alana loves guiding clients to reach their goals and aspire to higher potential! She is excited to meet people in their homes to make a specialized program work for them.

When not working, Alana is kept busy with her husband and two daughters. She loves to garden, bike, travel, and take long hikes with her dog.

References
¹“National Health Interview Survey.” National Center for Health Statistics, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 7 June 2018, www.cdc.gov/nchs/nhis/index.htm. Accessed 10 June 2018.

²Whiteman, Honor. “Migraine Pain Could Be Eased with Ketamine, Study Finds.” Medical News Today, MediLexicon International, 22 Oct. 2017, www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/319815.php?sr. Accessed 10 June 2018.

³“Headaches.” Department of Neurology, Mayo Clinic, 14 Sept. 2015, www.mayo.edu/research/departments-divisions/department-neurology/programs/headaches. Accessed 10 June 2018.

⁴Gravitz, Lauren. Gone With A Shot? Hopeful New Signs Of Relief For Migraine Sufferers. NPR, 3 Feb. 2018, www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2018/02/03/581092093/gone-with-a-shot-hopeful-new-signs-of-relief-for-migraine-sufferer.Accessed 10 June 2018.