Headaches range from pressure around the head to the throbbing, one-sided pain of a migraine. The worst headache of your life, or one with weakness, confusion or trouble speaking, needs the emergency room. Headaches that keep returning need a closer look, and a comprehensive evaluation at our Towson clinic can be part of that.
Two People, Two Different Headaches
One person feels a band of pressure around the head after hours at a screen. Another loses a day to nausea and pounding on one side, with the lights off.
Those are different conditions with different triggers, and a headache can also be a symptom of something else entirely. Naming the type is where care starts.
Understanding Headaches and Migraines
Doctors group headaches as primary, which happen on their own, or secondary, which come from another condition. Tension-type headache is the most common kind. Migraine is a neurologic condition with repeated attacks of moderate to severe pain, usually throbbing and on one side of the head.
A migraine can move through stages, though not everyone goes through all of them.
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A warning phase
A day or two ahead, some people notice mood changes, food cravings, constipation or frequent yawning.
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An aura, for some
Flashes of light, blind spots or pins and needles can build over several minutes, before or during the pain.
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The attack
Throbbing pain often comes with nausea and sensitivity to light and sound. Untreated, it usually lasts 4 to 72 hours.
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The day after
You may feel drained, confused or worn out for up to a day.
Other primary headaches
- Tension-type: steady pressure on the face, head or neck, usually on both sides
- Cluster: sudden, severe pain behind or around one eye, often at the same time of day
When a headache comes from something else
- A brain injury
- High blood pressure
- An infection
- Seizures
- A stroke or brain tumor
- Substance misuse or withdrawal
Mayo Clinic's overview of migraine says having a family member with migraines raises your chance of having them, and that the first often comes in the teen years.
Headache and Migraine Symptoms
- Throbbing or pulsing pain, often on one side
- Constant pressure on the face, head or neck
- A feeling like a belt tightening around the head
- Nausea or vomiting
- Sensitivity to light or sound
- Flashes of light or blind spots before the pain
- Pain that gets worse with walking or climbing stairs
- Pain behind or around one eye
Stroke and Emergency Signs
Call 911 or go to the emergency room for the worst headache of your life or a sudden, severe one. Do the same for a headache with confusion, fainting, a stiff neck, high fever, seizures, double vision, trouble speaking or walking, or numbness or weakness on one side.
These can point to a stroke, meningitis or encephalitis. With a possible stroke, every minute counts. Call 911 for an ambulance, and do not drive yourself to the hospital.
Stroke warning signs to check
- One side of the face droops
- One arm drifts downward when both are raised
- Speech is slurred or strange
- Sudden dizziness or loss of balance
- Sudden trouble seeing
See a doctor right away for
- A headache after a head injury
- A headache that gets worse over days or weeks, or changes its pattern
- A headache that worsens with coughing, exertion or sudden movement
- New headache pain after age 50
- Two or more headaches a week
- New headaches with a history of cancer or HIV
- Headaches in a child that keep coming back
The CDC's guide to stroke signs says the treatments that work best depend on recognizing and diagnosing a stroke within 3 hours of the first symptoms.
Talk with a doctor as well if headaches keep you from work, sleep or normal activities, or if over-the-counter medicine no longer helps.
What Can Set Off a Headache
Stress and tense muscles
Emotional stress can make muscles in the neck, face, scalp and jaw contract. Stress at work or home can also bring on a migraine.
Sleep changes
Too little sleep or too much can both trigger an attack. Daytime naps can lower deep sleep at night and cause headaches in some adults.
Hormonal changes
Shifts in estrogen around periods, pregnancy or menopause are a common migraine trigger. Women are three times more likely than men to have migraines.
Posture and screens
Reading, computer work and staring at a phone can strain the head and neck. Poor posture may add to headaches.
Food, drink and skipped meals
Alcohol, too much caffeine, aged cheeses and processed foods are common culprits for some people. So are dehydration and missed meals.
Light, sound and smells
Flashing lights, loud sounds and strong smells such as perfume or paint thinner can bring on a migraine.
Overused pain medicine
Taking pain relievers too often can trigger its own headaches. If you need them often, talk with your doctor about a safer plan.
The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke's overview of headache conditions adds weather changes and changes in routine, such as airplane travel, to the list of triggers.
How We Treat Headaches and Migraines in Towson
Headache care may begin with a look at the likely source and a check of the spine. Some headaches belong with a neurologist or your own doctor first. Whether any of these is recommended depends on your condition and our comprehensive evaluation.
Chiropractic
Chiropractic care for headaches may include a check of the spine for misalignments, and adjustments as indicated.
Posture Correction
Posture correction is offered at this clinic. Migraine care plans may also include posture work and ways to ease stress.
Your chiropractor carefully evaluates each condition first, which determines whether gentle chiropractic treatment fits you.
Other Paths for Headache and Migraine Care
This list is not complete, and most of these happen outside our clinic. A neurologist or your own doctor can talk through others.
| Option | What it involves | Who provides it |
|---|---|---|
| A headache diary | Notes that can help a doctor find patterns and the type of headache. | You |
| Sleep, exercise and diet | Regular sleep, exercise and a healthy diet. | You, with advice from your doctor |
| Over-the-counter pain relievers | Common medicines for pain. Regular overuse can make headaches worse. | You, with advice from your doctor or pharmacist |
| Prescription medicine | Medicine to stop an attack or help prevent attacks. | Your doctor or a neurologist |
| Stress management | Biofeedback, relaxation training, meditation or cognitive behavioral therapy. | A counselor or other trained provider |
| Chiropractic adjustments | Hands-on work on the joints of the spine. | A chiropractor at this clinic, if recommended |
| Posture correction | Posture work as part of a care plan. | This clinic, if recommended |
Headache Care at Our E Joppa Rd Clinic
Our Towson clinic sees headaches and migraines. New patients may begin with a detailed intake. If a neurologist or your own doctor already treats your headaches, chiropractic care may be combined with that treatment. When the team cannot help, you may be referred to another provider.
Hillendale, Idlewylde and Parkville
Hillendale and Idlewylde are both nearby, about 1.3 miles south and about 1.6 miles south-southwest. Parkville lies about 2 miles southeast, with Carney about 3 miles east.
Book a Headache Evaluation
It helps to know how often your headaches come, what you have already tried and which medicines you take. Cost and coverage questions can be handled by phone before your visit.