More than 45 million Americans suffer from headaches that disrupt their daily routine. Therapeutic Solutions International has developed a Headache Impact Test and Score Sheet to discover the intensity of your headaches.  You can find this on their website, www.nti-tss.com or view it as the attached PDF here. Do you think your headaches disrupt your daily routines?

Offensive standout, Percy Harvin, of the Minnesota Vikings has missed several practices due to severe migraines. Harvin missed one game and a number of practices last season due to these debilitating headaches. His plight has made migraines fodder for water cooler conversations and tweets across the country. Not only has it raised awareness about migraine but also exposed the average Joe's misconceptions about them.

Vikings head coach, Brad Childress spoke for millions when he stated that medically diagnosed migraine "is a thing that none of us have a great feel for. They are so wide-ranging and people report different things. It's different for different people." If you were to take a poll, you'd find that most people mistakenly believe that migraines are just bad headaches. A slew of research has been conducted by physicians and dentists around the globe about the pathophysiology of migraines. Even among researchers, the causes and treatment recommendations vary drastically.

Do you clench or grind your teeth while you're sleeping? That was a trick question. How would you know what you do while you're asleep? Almost everyone clenches their teeth at night and many grind them too. The technical terminology for teeth grinding is "bruxism" and when it occurs during sleep, it is known as "nocturnal bruxism." Hundreds of studies have shown that nocturnal bruxism often leads to symptoms including worn and fractured teeth, head, neck, and face pain, migraines and headaches.

Oftentimes dental splints, commonly known as night guards are prescribed by dentists for bruxers. These nightguards are available in a variety of different designs and are fabricated using a number of different materials. They are usually prescribed by a dentist and created by a dental laboratory. However, over-the-counter (OTC) appliances can be purchased at drug stores but should be avoided at all cost. They are not custom fit for the user and can possibly increase TMJ pain. OTC night guards are typically not durable and very difficult to wear due to their excessive bulk. Regardless of the cheap price tag, if it doesn't relieve your symptoms, breaks easily, or can't be worn at all, it's not doing you any good at all!