But despite all of the work and money being thrown at the problem, the bottom line is that pharmaceuticals (be it over the counter or prescription strength medications) do not cure the root cause of headaches & migraines. They merely mask symptoms offering temporary relief.

Current biomechanical research has found a common thread with most headache sufferers. This commonality is that those people who experience ongoing headaches and/or migraines have problems in the cervical (neck) part of their spine. The cervical spine has seven vertebrae (the bones which surround and provide some protection to the spinal cord). The vertebrae are moveable and can twist, bend, flex and extend. This motion allows us to move our necks with a considerable amount of freedom.

The mobility of the cervical vertebrae comes with a price. Sometimes the vertebrae can get suck out of alignment (in relation to the other bones). When this happens, it is called a “subluxation”. “Sub” means less than. “Luxation” means dislocation. So a subluxation is an abnormal position of a bone, but not so much so that it’s dislocated. Vertebral subluxations can occur with as little as one degree of misalignment. They can also occur when the vertebrae is suck, and isn’t able to move correctly. Instead of the joints gliding on each other freely, they feel like a rusty old hinge that needs a squirt of WD-40.

When vertebrae become subluxated, it sends off a cascade of abnormal sensory signals to the brain. At first, the problem is at a sub-perception level (meaning you can’t feel it). But after enough time passes, the abnormal sensory signals to the brain grows in intensity, and eventually is perceived as pain.

So how does this have anything to do with headaches an migraines? The nerves which branch up into the head stem from the cervical spine. When you irritate a cervical spinal nerve (which travels to the head), it eventually is perceived as a headache. The source of the problem is a hard bone pressing on a soft nerve – all in the neck area.

When a chiropractor adjusts the cervical spine, he gently re-aligns the cervical vertebrae, taking pressure off the nerves. If those nerves happen to be the ones which travel up into the head, the result is elimination of headaches & migraines. The results can often be fast and surprisingly powerful.

Impaired immune system

The newest classification of sinusitis refers to it as rhinosinusitis (rhinology is the medical specialty that deals with the nose and its diseases). The logic behind this choice is that inflammation of the sinuses cannot occur without some inflammation of the nose as well.

What is the Difference Between Acute and Chronic Sinusitis?

Acute sinusitis is a rapid onset and short but severe sinus infection that lasts up to four to eight weeks. Chronic sinusitis is a long-lasting and recurrent sinus infection. An attack that lasts more than eight weeks or keeps coming back is classified as chronic. Symptoms of chronic sinusitis are usually less severe than those of acute sinusitis, however this condition may lead to complications requiring prolonged treatment and sometimes surgery. Sinusitis that lasts between 4 and 12 weeks can be subdivided into the “subacute” classification.

Chronic Sinus headache

Whereas a person suffering from acute sinusitis is almost guaranteed a sinus headache, this is not the case with chronic sinusitis. In other words, a chronic sufferer will occasionally develop a chronic sinus headache due to internal pressure, however this is not a recognized characteristic of the disease. Sinus headache symptoms, which include facial discomfort and a dull, aching pain over the infected sinus, are common to both acute and chronic sinus infections.

The pain is nearly always localized over the infected sinus and often starts on one side and spreads over to the other. In addition, it is usually accompanied by a thick, yellow/green purulent nasal discharge, together with a hacking cough and a sore throat. The headache typically intensifies when the patient bends forward or lies down. If one or both of the maxillary sinuses are infected, a dull, achy toothache in the upper jaw is common.

Migraine misdiagnosis

It is difficult to tell the difference between sinus related headaches, pressure headaches and migraine headaches because many of their symptoms overlap. In fact, recent studies show that approximately 90% of so called “sinus headaches” turn out to be migraines. Migraine headache symptoms mimic sinus headaches because:

With a migraine, the trigeminal nerve innervates both the sinuses and the meninges surrounding the brain. This makes it almost impossible to isolate the origins of the pain.
A migraine often triggers nasal congestion
Autonomic nerve stimulation causes a runny nose and watery eyes

How to Tell the Difference

Whereas a migraine headache will respond to triptan medication, decongestants and antibiotics only serve to intensify the pain… and vice versa.
Sinus headaches do not display “auras” or visionary disturbances, which are common in migraines.
Unlike migraines, there is no sensitivity to bright light and loud noises with a chronic sinus headache.
A migraine lasts for a day or two, whereas a sinus headache can drag on for a week or more
A migraine typically produces a throbbing headache as opposed to the dull, constant pain experienced with a sinus headache

Without specialized medical training. it is extremely difficult to accurately diagnose the different classes of headache. Do not attempt to diagnose your own symptoms… it is unwise to treat yourself without consulting a physician. Dosing yourself with the wrong medication will only serve to intensify your headache.

If you suffer from migraines you probably know by now that most migraines don’t just “happen” all of a sudden with no warning. I usually get warning signs a day or two before and if I am paying attention I can recognize them and takes steps to lessen or sometimes avoid my headache. Many migraine sufferers may recognize some of these early warning signs:

• Fatigue
• Difficulty concentrating
• Easily Irritated
• Particular food cravings
• Stress response- I get tension in my neck and shoulders

You may have a different set of warning signs but the key is to learn to recognize them – early on.

When you recognize your early warning signs you need to take action. When you first begin to feel a migraine is nearing try some of these techniques that work:

Deep focused breathing – we all breathe without thinking about how we do it. But focused deep breathing is the key to most relaxation techniques, making sure to fully exhale as you bring in and tighten your abdomen. To make it easier for me to focus on my breathing I count as I exhale. First I inhale deeply through my nose and then begin to slowly count to four as I exhaled. This technique helps me to clear my mind and focusing on my breathing.

Scan your body and focusing on relaxing where you hold tension. We all hold tension in our bodies, whether it’s in a common place like the neck or shoulders as I do, or some other part of the body. As you focus on breathing you can also learn to relax specific parts of your body. Learn to identify where you hold your tension and practice on relaxing. For example, I learned to slowly raise my shoulders up as far as I could and then allow them to quickly drop. I do this about 20 times – it really works – but you have to focus on letting go of the tension.

In summary, the key to preventing or lessening the severity of migraines can be as simple as learning to identify your trigger points, take action early, and learning to use techniques that help you to relax both your mind and your body.

• Many people who experience migraines have come to realize that a change in their sleeping patterns or habits can frequently be a trigger for migraines. If you fail to get sufficient sleep it can increase your stress level – a well known trigger point for migraines. But what you may not realize is that getting that extra hour on Saturday morning may be a problem as well. The infamous “week-end” migraine headache has less to do with whether its Saturday or Sunday and more to do with a change in your sleeping patterns.
• If you suffer from migraine headaches making sure that you eat your meals on a regular schedule is important. Skipping meals is a migraine trigger for many people and unfortunately it is an easy habit to get in to. Many people associate headaches that come from skipping meals with low blood sugar that can potentially result. But the reality for migraine sufferers is that the headaches have more to do with a change in patterns. Of course, stress is also frequently a factor that causes us to skip a meal and also a migraine trigger for most people.
• Regular exercise is also a great way to help reduce both the frequency and severity of migraines. It isn’t necessary to go to the gym and undergo a vigorous 60 minute workout every day. You just need to try to get in 20 minutes a day four times a week can help. And just like skipping meals because your are under stress, it’s easy to skip your exercise routine as well just when you probably need it the most. So try to keep to your exercise routine, it’s a good way to release stress and reduce migraines.
• You have to learn how to relax. Learning how to relax isn’t just about learning breathing techniques or a particular yoga stance, it’s also about your state of mind. You have to learn to take time out occasionally and allow yourself to relax and minimize the stimulus around you. It’s important to make a conscientious effort to relax.

In summary, the key to preventing migraines is to pay attention to your lifestyle, learn to identify your trigger points, and learn to use techniques that help you to relax both your mind and your body. You can’t always control the stress in your life, but you can learn to control how you deal with it, and how susceptible you are to migraines.

People with chronic migraines, serious headaches that occur regularly over a long period of time, may be treated with everything from mood altering medicines to hypnosis. However, there is one treatment that has been used with considerable success that your doctor may not be telling you about.

According to preliminary research, the essential fatty acid omega 3, commonly found in fatty game fish like salmon and tuna, may dramatically reduce the duration and frequency of migraine headaches.

Preliminary research means that the scientific community not only suspects that this is the case, but has done studies that indicate omega 3 can seriously help control and eliminate chronic migraines. However, because these results have not yet been accepted by the medical community at large, researchers and their research on omega 3 have remained under the radar for most doctors.

Even most neurologists will not recommend an omega 3 supplement to help with migraines simply because they are not aware of this fatty acid’s potential.

Omega 3 fatty acids from fish oil have long been acknowledged as a good supplement for cardiovascular health. To get the other benefits of this essential nutrient, however, you need much larger doses than you can get by just eating tuna melts once or twice a week. In order to derive full benefits from omega 3, you need to take it in the form of a daily supplement that contains the right types of the fatty acid to protect and bolster not just your health but also your psychological well being.

Look for a fish oil supplement made from salmon rather than tuna or other fish, as Arctic Circle salmon swim in the cleanest, clearest waters in the world and are far better for consumption than commercial tuna or mackerel.

Salmon Oil is made from only the flesh of Arctic Circle salmon. In addition, it’s certified to be 100% free of any toxins, pesticides, fungicides or heavy metals. In other words, it’s 100% pure omega 3 just as nature intended you to consume it.

Best Treatment for Headache Relief

As drugs and injections only reduce the intensity of headaches, people nowadays are looking for a natural method that would reduce pain as well as eliminate the cause of pain. Latest chiropractic techniques help people to get rid of headache and also provide the ways to prevent future problems. Application of gentle and skilled chiropractic adjustments will reduce the pressure on the spinal nerves and muscles and it will automatically reduce the symptoms of headache. By restoring the proper function, chiropractic methods reduce the incidence of future headache problems.

Safe and Effective Way

The major aim of chiropractic care is to reduce and eliminate the abnormal neurological function that causes severe and chronic headache problems. Non-intrusive chiropractic techniques help the spinal system to work properly and it will effectively reduce the frequency and duration of migraine and tension headaches.

During the initial consultation, the chiropractor thoroughly examines the overall function of your body and performs specific tests to find the root cause of your headache problem. Depending on the patient’s medical condition, the chiropractor will design an individual headache treatment plan. Many insurance companies provide coverage for chiropractic care-however, before scheduling a chiropractic treatment plan, you have to make sure whether it is covered or not.

I’ve cut all sorts of things out of my diet, over the years, with varying degrees of success, but the one thing that I keep coming back to and puzzling over is caffeine.

I had been a tea drinker all my life and for some reason, several years ago, had started drinking coffee. After a few months I was drinking more and more, stronger coffee and I noticed that my migraines had become more frequent and intense, so I decided to cut caffeine out of my diet completely.

If you’ve ever tried this yourself, you’ll appreciate what a powerful, addictive drug caffeine is! Intense headaches and overall misery followed for three or four days! Once I was eventually back to normality and settling into my new life of peppermint and camomile tea I found that although it hadn’t been a complete success, the migraines were happening much less frequently and when I did get them they were much more controllable.

There was however one problem. The medication I use for headache pain relief (Migril) has a large dose of caffeine in it, so how could I stay “caffeine free”? Despite this little niggle I stayed clear of caffeine (apart from the medication) for about ten years, so I guess I must have approved of the overall result.

Over those ten years I found I was able to control almost all my migraine attacks with my medication, if, and it’s a big IF, I was able to take it at the very first signs. I even managed to reduce my dose from two pills, down to just one quarter of a pill.

Recently I began to notice an increase in the frequency of my pill popping. Sometimes, although I was still only on one quarter of a pill, I was taking Migril almost every day, as I rebounded back and forth. Eventually I decided that maybe it was the caffeine in the medication that was causing the rebound effect, so I decided I’d try coming off the wagon and joining the legions of coffee drinkers once more!

I really don’t like taking medication if I can avoid it, so I figured that if caffeine could give me the headache pain relief I needed, it had to be a better option. Since I made the change, about three months ago, I’ve only had a couple of migraine attacks. To be fair, they have been more intense than those I’ve been used to, but I guess it’s a trade off between intensity and frequency!

The attacks I have had, I feel sure were caused by NOT having one of the coffees that my body has now become accustomed to, so I guess I’m hooked again but I prefer being hooked on coffee to being hooked on Migril and hey! I have to say that coffee is much tastier than camomile!

Migraines are generally not a threat to a person’s overall health, although they can interfere with one’s everyday living. The true causes of migraines are not full understood at this time, although there are some things that are more common in people who experience them.

While many people’s migraines are severe, not all severe headaches are actually migraines, and some migraines can be quite mild. However, migraines are not always a sign of a stroke or a tumor, and your physician will reassure you of this. Some believe that a migraine is a combination of a genetic vulnerability and environmental factors that stimulate the overactive system.

Migraines are commonly described as a throbbing or pounding pain in the head. They can be worsened by some activities and generally sufferers are adversely affected by light and noise. Many migraines can also be caused from dehydration.

For both males and females, the rate of severe headaches and migraines is highest among those people aged 25 to 44 years and decreases with age. The frequency of migraines significantly increases during a woman’s perimenstrual period, and menstrually related migraines can be of a longer duration and greater frequency with longer lasting disability than any non-menstrual migraines.