Chiropractor In Littleton CO | New Trends in Headaches Research
The statistics are daunting: two out of three children will have experienced a headache by age 15 and more than 90% of all adults will too. Headaches are one of the most common causes for missed work and school and are the most common medical complaint. Severe headaches can interfere not only with work but with daily activities as well.
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Chiropractor In Littleton CO | New Trends in Headaches Research
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The statistics are daunting: two out of three children will have experienced a headache by age 15 and more than 90% of all adults will too. Headaches are one of the most common causes for missed work and school and are the most common medical complaint. Severe headaches can interfere not only with work but with daily activities as well.
Types of Headaches -
Headaches are classified into two groups, primary and secondary.
” Primary headaches are not associated with any particular medical condition. They arrive independently and to date we are uncertain as to what causes them. What is known is that chemical changes within the brain affect the local blood vessels causing the proximal nerves to send pain messages. The best known primary headaches are migraines, tension-type headaches and cluster headaches.
” Secondary headaches occur in response to a specific medical condition. Trauma, fever, high blood pressure, infection, stroke and tumors are some of the underlying conditions that can lead to secondary headaches. The nerves affected are often pulled or stretched to some degree transmitting pain signals to the brain.
Researchers Seek to Understand the Mechanism Better -
With headaches being so prevalent in the population, there is a great need to understand them better. Studies into the causes of migraines are looking into several possibilities. While there has been no success in searching for a metabolic link to migraines, it has been noted that mast cell responses are activated by migraine headaches.
Another study is looking at changes within the visual cortex during migraines. A recent finding showed that even blind patients who suffer from migraines react negatively to light if they have any visual receptors left, whether they can see or not.
Another lead comes from cortical spreading depression (CSD). This process, which occurs during migraines with auras, produces an increase of brain activity followed by a decrease that spreads along the brain’s surface. The wave travels across the visual centers of the brain and corresponds to the period of visual aura.
Researchers have also found that those who suffer from migraines with auras may develop small areas of stroke-like damage in their brains as a result of the oxygen drops associated with CSD. Medications are being tested with the goal of inhibiting events of CSD.
Headaches in Children -
Not much research has been conducted on children who suffer from headaches. Because children are not small adults, medicines that are used commonly to control headaches in adults are not always appropriate. Studies with children focus on a multi-pronged approach to headache management.
Combining stress management techniques such as biofeedback, imagery, and muscle relaxation exercises with the drug amitriptyline has been effective for many young headache patients in reducing intensity and frequency of headaches. The use of craniosacral therapy, a gentle form of massage that focuses upon the head, neck and spine has also demonstrated very promising results.
As more research is conducted and studies are completed, it is hoped that an improved understanding of headaches will lead to breakthroughs in treatment. For those who suffer from regular headaches, the results can’t come fast enough.
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