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Headache Specialists

Have you been struggling with headaches for years? Does nothing seem to touch them? The solution may be found with our headache specialists.

Headaches Facts from the World Health Organization

  • Headache disorders are the most common nervous system disorder
  • Headaches have been underestimated and under-treated globally 
  • Nearly 40% of the global population have headache disorders
  • Headaches are more common in women than men

(Source)

What Are the Common Types of Headaches?

This headache type typically causes mild-to-moderate pain or pressure that feels like your head is being squeezed. They can be stress-related or caused by muscle issues in the neck. For some people, tension headaches are a chronic condition that can occur for 15 days out of each month.

Cluster headaches can appear unexpectedly and have no pattern. They cause excruciating pain around one eye or on one side of your head. You’ll have frequent cluster headaches for weeks or months before going into remission.

Migraines cause an intense throbbing pain often focused around one temple but may affect both sides of your face. Migraines develop in response to certain triggers and can last 4-72 hours. In addition to severe pain, you’ll also have symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, and sensitivity to lights, sounds, and smells.

If you’re searching for a headache specialist near you, visit Abbey Neuropsychology Clinic in Palo Alto, California. The clinic also offers telehealth to clients in California, Texas, and Florida!

Why Medication Doesn’t Always Help Headaches

Chronic headache treatment is considered pain management, which is complex for both the doctor and the patient. Every person with a migraine or headache has different needs—what works for one person will not work for another.

While many have found success with medication, others feel like it only treats symptoms or doesn’t have any effect at all.

Depending on the situation, medication may not help due to a misdiagnosis or continuous exposure to triggers. Occasionally, medication can cause more problems, which is why people often search for natural treatments for chronic headaches.

The complexity of headache treatment is why it’s crucial to communicate your needs and symptoms when working with a headache specialist.

Headaches
Medication-Free ADHD Treatment Key Strategies

How Abbey Neuropsychology Clinic Treats Headaches Naturally

The headache specialists at Abbey Neuropsychology Clinic offer therapies that relieve your symptoms by getting to the source of your headache. Some of the advanced therapies they offer include:

If you experience chronic stress, you may have dysregulated breathing patterns that contribute to muscle tension and, subsequently, to tension headaches. Biofeedback helps you learn to regulate stress, relax muscles, and explore other natural tension headache treatments.

Neurofeedback is a noninvasive treatment that directly regulates activity in your brain, potentially targeting the source of some headaches. Neurofeedback works for migraines because it trains your brain to respond more effectively to migraine-inducing stress and triggers.

Red light therapy for headaches may relieve symptoms when caused by proinflammatory conditions, such as Lyme disease or fibromyalgia. Infrared light stimulates cellular energy and reduces inflammation.

Headaches often arise when you have ongoing stress, anxiety, and depression. With talk therapy, your provider at Abbey Neuropsychology Clinic can help you learn coping mechanisms that reduce your challenges and your headaches.

To get relief from your headaches, call Abbey Neuropsychology Clinic to schedule an appointment.

Frequently Asked Questions About Headaches

What causes headaches?

There are more than 150 types of headaches, but they’re all placed in one of two categories:

Primary Headaches

Primary headaches are associated with problems in your head or neck, often due to muscle tension or changes in nerves and blood vessels. Migraines, cluster headaches, and tension headaches are all primary headaches.

Secondary Headaches

Secondary headaches develop due to an underlying health condition. For example, a concussion, sinus infection, and a jaw disorder can all cause a secondary headache.

There are many potential triggers—and it really depends on the individual. However, the most common headache triggers are:

  1. Stress
  2. Poor diet
  3. Muscle tension
  4. Different health conditions
  5. Eyestrain
  6. Hormones
  7. Environment
  8. Lack of sleep
  9. Alcohol consumption
  10. Smoking

You should see a medical professional if chronic headaches affect your daily life. While painful, headaches should not continuously disrupt your life.

A headache can be an emergency as it can be a symptom of a stroke or meningitis. Emergency symptoms that occur along with a headache include:

  • High fever 
  • Confusion or difficulty understanding speech
  • Fainting
  • Numbness, weakness, or paralysis on one side of your body
  • Stiff neck
  • Trouble seeing, speaking, or walking
  • Nausea or vomiting
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