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Trigger Point Self-Help CD-ROM
Companion Materials: Perpetuating Factors

Companion Materials:
Headache Diary
Headache Types
this pagePerpetuating Factors

Headaches, Trigger Points, & Perpetuating Factors

A tabular reference describing the likely role of trigger points, emotional effects, biochemical and vascular system role, and most important perpetuating factors by headache type.
Download: Adobe Acrobat format (.pdf, 36 kb)

Type of Headache*
Likely Role of
Trigger Points
(The more chronic, the more likely that trigger points are involved.)
Likely Role of
Emotional effects
(via limbic system
of brain)
Likely role of
Biochemicals &
Vascular System
(blood vessels)

Most Important
Perpetuating Factors**

Migraine without aura

 moderate to high

moderate to high

moderate

  • Allergies and other Environmental Stressors
  • Diet (caffeine, including rebound from medications, alcohol, tobacco)
  • Nutritional Problems
  • Emotional Factors
  • Hypoglycemia
  • Sleep Problems

Migraine with aura

 moderate to high

low to moderate

high

Migraine with aura, without headache

 low

low

high

Tension Headache

 moderate to very high

moderate to high, but not necessarily

low

  • Mechanical Stresses, including dental problems, postural problems, and leg-length discrepancies
  • Spinal Mis-alignments and other problems
  • Emotional Factors
  • Injuries (especially whiplash)
  • Lack of exercise

Headaches and Neck Pain from Trauma

 moderate to very high

low initially, but over time chronic pain leads to emotional input

low

  • Mechanical Stresses
  • Injuries (especially whiplash)
  • Spinal Mis-alignments and other problems

Cluster Headaches

 low, to moderate or high in chronic cases

low, to moderate or high in chronic cases

moderate to high

  • Diet
  • Allergies and other
  • Environmental Stressors

Headaches associated with TMJ pain

 moderate to very high

moderate to very high

low

  • Mechanical Stresses, including dental  problems
  • Spinal Mis-alignments and other problems
  • Emotional Factors

Secondary Headaches

 low to high

depends on cause

depends on cause

  • depends on cause


* Remember that you may have more than one type of headache at different times, one may turn into another during an attack, or you may have more than one kind at the same time.
** Be sure to consider all the perpetuating factors listed in Part II of the book, since you may have additional factors that are causing your headaches.

See Headache Type by Symptom for the relative roles of inputs in causing different types of headaches, plus common perpetuating factors.

Alaskan Natural Care, Inc.     info@triggerpointrelief.com     (907) 435-7060
The information contained in this trigger point book on CD-ROM is for informational and educational purposes only. It is not intended to diagnose, cure, or prevent your specific medical conditions or prescribe medications or supplements. As with any health condition, you need to see a licensed practitioner in the appropriate specialty for diagnosis and treatment. Accessibility statement.
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