Headaches and Migraines

There are several reasons for headaches. Most are not serious and once the cause is established headaches can often be helped by simple changes in lifestyle.

One cause can be tension or strain in the muscles and joints of the neck and upper back.

Treatment from an osteopath may help. Gentle massage to the tight muscles and manipulation to loosen the joints of the neck, thorax and back can relieve the build-up of muscular tension that may lead to headaches.

Osteopaths can also advise on exercise and lifestyle changes and offer guidance on simple changes to your posture when at work or driving which may help.

A migraine is usually a moderate or severe headache felt as a throbbing pain on one side of the head.

Many people also have symptoms such as nausea, vomiting and increased sensitivity to light or sound.

Migraine is a common health condition, affecting around one in every five women and around one in every 15 men. They usually begin in early adulthood.

There are several types of migraine, including:

Migraine with aura

Where there are specific warning signs just before the migraine begins, such as seeing flashing lights

Migraine without aura

The most common type, where the migraine occurs without the specific warning signs

Migraine aura without headache

Also known as silent migraine – where an aura or other migraine symptoms are experienced, but a headache doesn’t develop

Some people have migraines frequently, up to several times a week. Other people only have a migraine occasionally. It’s possible for years to pass between migraine attacks.