A headache is described as pain in the region of the head or neck. It can be a symptom of a number of different conditions of the head and neck. The brain itself is not pain sensitive because it lacks pain receptors. Rather, the pain is caused by irritation of the pain-sensitive structures around the brain such as the meninges (the tissue that covers the brain) and blood vessels.
Did you know that 1 in 10 of the world’s population from chronic headaches, meaning more than 3 to 4 headaches per week (1)?
There are several different types of headaches ranging from tension type to migraines. With each type there can be a common factor, upper cervical muscular tension. This muscular tension can cause restricted vertebra in the neck, inflammation and swelling of the joints of the upper cervical spine and surrounding muscular tissue. It can also lead to irritation of the nerves that supply the pain sensitive structures surrounding the brain leading to a variety of headaches (2).
The Headache Hammock can help relieve headaches by releasing this muscular tension using an occipital lift. By placing your head properly on the device, the specialized high density polyurethane foam will lift up the head and traction the back of the skull called the occiput, while at the same time applying gentle pressure to the muscular tension in the upper neck. When this occurs, the muscular tension will relax and the head will settle into the hammock of the device. In many cases, both acute and chronic headaches will improve rapidly and when used regularly the Headache Hammock may reduce headaches completely.
- Atlas of Headache Disorders and Resources in the World 2011, World Health Organization (WHO).
http://www.who.int/mental_health/management/atlas_headache_disorders/en/ - Shevel Elliot, Spierings Egilius H., "Cervical Muscles in the Pathogenesis of Migraine Headache" J Headache Pain (2004) 5:12–14
http://dash.harvard.edu/bitstream/handle/1/10579147/3452145.pdf?sequence=1
Check out these links for more information about headaches:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Headache
http://www.webmd.com/migraines-headaches/default.htm
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003024.htm