Headache Specialist

What causes chronic headaches?

Your neck serves as a bridge for blood flow between your spine and head, so even the slightest impact to your neck can lead to severe or chronic headache pain. Many adults are surprised to learn that a past car accident or a teenage sports injury, left untreated, is causing their headaches in adulthood. Spinal misalignment or environmental allergies could also be responsible for your headache pain.

Most headaches fall into one of three categories:

• Tension headaches: most common type; affect more women than men
• Migraine headaches: affect both children and adults
• Cluster headaches: most commonly affect men in their late 20s
  

These typical types of headaches are often triggered by:

• Alcohol, especially red wine
• Processed foods containing nitrates
• Lack of sleep
• Poor posture
• Stress
• Dehydration
• Poor diet
• Seasonal allergens or poor air quality
• Inflammation around the head and neck
  

How is a migraine different?

Migraine headaches are the result of specific changes within your brain. Pressure and inflammation in your head, neck, and shoulders can be contributing factors for migraines. Hormonal changes, especially in women and teen girls, can contribute to the onset of a migraine headache.

Migraine headaches are usually on one side or at the front of your head and may last anywhere from a few hours to a few days. Symptoms include:

• Pulsating pain
• Nausea
• Eye pain or sensitivity to light
• Numbness or tingling
• Pain worsened by physical activity
• Sensitivity to noise
  

Common migraine triggers are:

• Chocolate
• Cheese/dairy
• Perfume or other strong odors
• Alcohol
• Sunlight
• Skipping meals
• Lack of sleep
• Hormonal changes and menstruation
  

How are headaches and migraines treated?

Many chronic headache sufferers get caught in the cycle of pain medication. While over-the-counter or prescription pain pills may offer immediate relief, these drugs mask the cause of your symptoms. Pain medications become less effective with prolonged use. A better option is treating your headache pain by getting to the root cause of it.

Dr. Altieri and Dr. Cavallo want to help you discover what is causing your headaches so they can offer natural and effective remedies that don’t create a dependency on pain pills. At your first visit, they evaluate your neck and spine, and discuss lifestyle, sleep patterns, and nutrition. As part of your treatment plan, Dr. Altieri and Dr. Cavallo may recommend chiropractic adjustments to correct any structural issues, or food sensitivity testing to determine headache triggers.