What are Cluster Headaches?

While cluster headaches are not as common as tension or migraine headaches, they have been described as the most painful of all headaches. Cluster headaches can be difficult to diagnose however there are some distinguishing characteristics.

 Excruciating pain is felt near one eye, often times there is tearing and drooping of the eye, nose congestion and flushing of face only on the one affected side. Pain generally is more noticeable at night when trying to sleep and may last anywhere from 15 minutes to 3 hours. These attacks  can occur from one per day up to 8 per day.  These headaches will occur in patterns or “clusters” hence the name and can occur for weeks up to months at a time followed by a recession period.

 Cluster headaches like migraine and tension headaches can be classified as episodic or chronic depending on the frequency of attacks.  If a patient has experienced cluster headaches for over 1 year and has a recession period less than one month between bouts they would likely be diagnosed with chronic cluster headaches.

Due to the severity of cluster headaches those who experience them can be frightened that a serious medical condition might be the cause of such pain. Fortunately cluster headaches like the far majority of all headaches are benign and are not life threatening.  As a general rule the following symptoms would likely indicate a serious medical condition is responsible.

SUDDEN numbness or weakness of face, arm or leg – especially on one side of the body.
SUDDEN confusion, trouble speaking or understanding.
SUDDEN trouble seeing in one or both eyes.
SUDDEN trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination.
SUDDEN onset of SEVERE headache that is the worst headache ever experienced.
Any of these symptoms would warrant an immediate trip to the nearest ER.

 At the Migraine Relief Chiropractic Center we utilize Palmer Specific Chiropractic adjustments which can help make cluster headache attacks shorter and less severe and our preventive approachcan help reduce the number of cluster headaches. If you think you are suffering from cluster headaches and want to determine what the diagnosis is, call today to schedule an appointment for a headache analysis.

6885 W 151st St. Overland Park, KS 66223

Emergency Migraine Walk-In Relief: 877.948.9998

Preventive Care Clinic: 913.953.7411

Stay connected for helpful information on managing migraine headaches.

 

Stress Response Diagram

Sleep and Migraine Headaches

The Migraine Relief Chiropractic Center is the only clinic in the Kansas City area that focuses solely on the treatment and prevention of migraine headaches. Many of our patients in Overland Park, Leawood, Olathe and the surrounding areas are not only getting relief from their migraine headaches but are noticing improvements to their sleep. This topic discusses how sleep can be impacted by migraines and vice versa.

While the exact cause of migraines is still unknown the most recent theory for their biogenesis is “A spreading wave of neuronal activity (interference) in the central nervous system.” So what does this mean? Basically an over active firing of neurotransmitters within the brain is causing a variety of changes and can be manifested as pain and other symptoms.

A common finding in the migraine progression is a drop in serotonin levels. Serotonin is an important neurotransmitter involved with SLEEP, vasoconstriction, mood, inhibition, and many other vital functions. Many migraine drugs attempt to block the re-absorption of serotonin by nerve endings in the brain and thus creating an unnatural method to increase serotonin levels. A drop in serotonin may be responsible to trigger a migraine just as a migraine in progress may decrease the levels of serotonin and disrupt normal sleep.

Serotonin is involved early in your sleep cycle. Around the time you are getting ready to fall asleep serotonin is released. Shortly after you have fallen asleep melatonin is produced then a cascade of interaction between different hormones and neurotransmitters takes place. Thus all of these hormones and interactions are influenced by the first step in the sleep cycle which is regulated by serotonin. This is why it is so important to stick to a strict routine of going to bed at the same time every night, yes even on weekends!

Drugs are toxic and have side effects, which often can create another problem you’ll have to deal with. There are natural methods to treat migraines and help increase serotonin levels in the brain which can help reduce dependence on drug medication and get the results you need.

If you or someone you know suffers from migraine headaches please make an appointment and find out how our safe and effective treatments can help. Visit www.MigraineReliefChiropractic.com to learn more.

Dietary Habits and Migraines

There are several different foods, beverages, and additives that are known to trigger migraines. But what you may not know is that your daily routine and dietary habits maybe a migraine trigger.

Skipping meals, fasting and dieting can cause headaches and trigger migraines.

I always recommend to my patients that they establish a strict daily routine and always eat meals around the same time each day. You should not only be keeping a food diary but also a headache diary to monitor what day and time they occur.

Check out the topic on specific food triggers for an in depth look at some food types that are notorious for causing headaches and triggering migraines.

Migraine Triggers

“’Triggers” are specific factors that may increase your risk of having a migraine attack. The migraine sufferer has inherited a sensitive nervous system that under certain circumstances can lead to migraine.

Triggers do not ‘cause’ migraine. Instead, they are thought to activate processes that cause migraine in people who are prone to the condition. A certain trigger will not induce a migraine in every person; and, in a single migraine sufferer, a trigger may not cause a migraine every time. By keeping a headache diary, you will be able to identify some triggers for your particular headaches. Check back on this website for a “Migraine Resources: page where we will post a form you can use for a headache diary.

Once you have identified triggers, it will be easier for you to avoid them and reduce your chances of having a migraine attack.” —American Council for Headache Education

The following is a list of the main categories of Migraine Triggers. Check the blog topics that discuss each main category in detail.

Migraine Trigger Categories

-Dietary

-Sleep

-Hormonal

-Stress

-Physical

-Environmental

Migraine Headache Diagnosis

Early diagnosis and treatment are important in identifying a serious underlying cause for your headache. In most cases, an in-depth history and physical examination can help determine if your symptoms are related to an easily treated problem, or if it is more serious. At Wellness Within we use many different tests to evaluate and reproduce the symptoms of your headache to help develop a specific management plan for your condition.

At Wellness Within Chiropractic Center our main focus is the treatment and prevention of Migraine headaches, and blood pressure is one of many parameters we look at when we monitor a patient’s health status.

The iHealth blood pressure monitoring system utilizes the latest technology in evaluating a patient’s heart rate, blood pressure and pulse wave. This system uses an iPad interface that provides fast and accurate results.

While blood pressure is an important measurement we monitor, irritation to the spinal nerves and the brain stem is our primary concern. Nerve tissue in the upper cervical spine that experiences irritation is often responsible for directly affecting blood pressure and is also a known cause of migraines.

Schedule an appointment today to find out if chiropractic adjustments may help lower your blood pressure or treat your migraines.

Migraines:

This particular condition is what is responsible for identifying why chiropractic was my life’s calling. I am passionate about treating people who suffer with migraines because I want to provide relief to those who endure this kind of pain the same way chiropractic gave me relief and let me take back my life.

Every patient is unique and not all migraines are the same, but I will utilize all my knowledge and resources to determine what might be contributing to the cause of the condition is and what treatments are available. If you or someone you care about suffers from migraine headaches the following symptoms will sound all too familiar.

Migraine Symptoms:

THROBBING, PULSATING PAIN

PAIN CAN BE SEVERE OR DULL

SENSITIVITY TO LIGHT AND OR SOUND

VERTIGO

NAUSEA

FATIGUE

DIZZINESS

LOSS OF APPETITE

VOMITING

NECK PAIN

PAIN THAT INTEREFERS WITH NORMAL ACTIVITIES

PAIN SOMETIMES MAY BE WORSE ON THE SIDES OF THE FOREHEAD OR ONLY ONE SIDE OF THE HEAD

PAIN THAT GETS WORSE WITH ACTIVITY

COMMONLY LASTS 6 TO 48 HOURS

YOU ARE NOT ALONE:

More than 23 MILLION people suffer from migraine headaches?

Over half of those people miss more than two days of work per MONTH.

DID YOU KNOW?

The CAUSE of migraine headaches are no longer considered vascular-based phenomena (meaning blood vessel constriction and dilatation). While the exact cause of migraines is still unknown the following is the most up to date theory that describes the cause as:

A spreading wave of neuronal activity (interference) in the central nervous system.

Misalignments of the spine interrupt its normal functions. It can cause abnormal motion of the vertebral joints, PAIN, degeneration of the spine, muscle tenderness and INTERFERENCE of the nervous system.

Helping the body heal itself by gently correcting misalignments that result in painful symptoms is exactly what chiropractic does.

At Wellness Within Chiropractic Center, our goal is to help our patients identify the CAUSE of the condition/dysfunction, RELIEVE pain and discomfort and RESTORE normal function. We want to teach our patients stretches and exercises to stabilize their spine and help them recognize the factors that can trigger pain and dysfunction, so they can resume a normal lifestyle.

Why put up with the pain? Make an appointment today and get on the road to living a healthier lifestyle and discover your Wellness Within.

Dr. Dan J. Sallee, DC

March, 2011