What are headaches and migraines?
A headache is defined as a pain sensation felt deep within the head. Headaches can be classified into two groups. Primary headaches and secondary headaches.
- ▪ Primary headaches are the most common type and are not found to be attributed to any specific cause, however we at Wholistic Dentistry believe they do have a trigger. The most common forms of primary headaches are tension headaches, migraines and cluster headaches.
- ▪ Secondary headaches are sensations of pain attributed to known causes like trauma, medication, hypertension, infection, tumor or MS. Secondary headaches can range from mild to severe to life threatening but most headache are not life threatening.
What are the symptoms of headaches and migraines?
Primary headaches are classified by the location and severity of pain.
- ▪ Tension headaches are sensations of pain associated with musculo-skeletal tension around the back, neck, face and/or jaw.
- ▪ A migraine is a pain sensation that builds from a dull ache to a constant throbbing, pulsating pain that can be felt on both sides of the head, at the temples, in the front or back of the head. Migraine pain can be associated with nausea, vomiting and hypersensitivity to light and noise stimulus. Some patients may experience an aura before the onset of a migraine.
- ▪ Cluster headaches are a variant of migraines, which usually occur unilaterally on either side of the head and behind the eyes. This type of headache may appear in short severe bursts.
What causes headaches and migraines?
While primary headaches are the most commonly experienced forms of headaches, their causes are highly variable and involve multiple factors. It is commonly believed that emotional and physical stresses cause headaches as muscle tension cause tension headaches. At Wholistic Dentistry we believe that there are common biochemical and physiological factors that predispose some patients to developing headaches more than others. These factors include ischemia, vasodilatation, inflammatory substances and cranial restriction. When patients experience physical or psychological stresses on top of these predisposing factors, they have a greater risk of developing severe headache symptoms. Addressing these predisposing factors may provide patients with a physical tolerance to headaches.
How are headaches and migraines treated?
The help that we can offer at Wholistic Dentistry is a non invasive, function appliance therapy. This treatment works by improving blood oxygenation and sleeping patterns through the development of airway passages, whilst also creating cranial expansion through the expansion of the maxillo-facial region. This two tiered treatment approach addresses both the biochemical and the physiological factors contributing to headaches and migraines. Combined with food allergy avoidance methods, the efficacy of this treatment can be enhanced further.
