Headache is one of the most common illnesses in Australia, with around 15 percent of us taking painkillers for a headache at any given time. Because headaches are so common, most people think they are a normal part of life. However, a persistent headache is a sign that something is wrong. The continual use of pain medication to combat headaches is akin to removing the warning light that alerts you to a problem in your car.

If you are suffering from chronic headaches or migraines, you do not need convincing that they are one of the most painful and debilitating conditions you could possibly endure. Millions upon millions of dollars a year are spent on trying to find relief from this crippling illness. But what causes migraines?

To be honest, we don’t know the exact causes. Theoretically it is a decrease in oxygen to the brain. If the brain receives less oxygen per millilitre of blood, it will simply increase the amount of blood flow to increase the overall amount of oxygen received. In order to increase the amount of blood flow it must dilate the blood vessels that supply blood to the brain. When these vessels dilate, it stretches pain fibres that wrap around the outside of these vessels. When these pain fibres are stretched they are activated and start sending pain signals into the brain, resulting in your perception of pain.

Migraines and headaches may also be caused by a musculoskeletal problems which may causes inflammation and tension of the joints, muscles and blood vessels at the base of the neck and transfer pain up into the skull.

Migraine headaches can be triggered by some items in your diet (like caffeine) or your lifestyle (sudden weight loss, stress or lack of sleep). What is important is to get a clear picture of what is going on and why, through a thorough history, physical examination and discussing these findings before any care is undertaken with an allied health practitioner.

Note: All therapy is based upon an accurate medical diagnosis of your condition including collating a thorough case history, including ongoing clinical conditions, present medications, traumatic/surgical history, and lifestyle factors, prior to developing a tailored therapy plan for your particular condition(s).