How do I know what is causing my headache?
Most people experience a headache from time to time. That’s normal.
What isn’t normal is getting headaches so regularly that they become part of everyday life.
One of the most useful clues when trying to understand headaches is where you feel them. The location of the pain can often tell us a lot about what may be contributing to the problem.
Although headaches are felt in the head, the cause isn’t always there. Sometimes they are linked to tension in the neck, poor posture, stress, lack of sleep, dehydration or increased strain on the nervous system.
Let’s look at some of the most common headache patterns.
The Tight Band Around Your Head
If your headache feels like a tight band wrapping around your forehead, temples or the back of your head, you’re probably familiar with what is known as a tension headache.
These headaches often build gradually throughout the day rather than arriving suddenly. Many people notice them after spending hours at a desk, driving long distances or staring at screens.
We frequently see people whose headaches are accompanied by stiff shoulders, tight neck muscles and restricted movement in the upper spine. They often tell us things like:
“My neck feels stiff when I turn it.”
“The headache gets worse as the day goes on.”
“Massage helps, but only temporarily.”
Over time, tension can build through the muscles and joints of the neck and upper back. As this happens, the nervous system can become increasingly sensitive, making headaches more likely to occur.
Some of the most common signs of a tension headache include:
• A dull, aching pressure around the head
• Tightness through the neck and shoulders
• Symptoms that worsen as the day progresses
• Temporary relief from movement, stretching or massage
The Throbbing Headache That Stops You in Your Tracks
Migraines are very different.
Rather than a feeling of pressure, migraines are often described as throbbing or pulsating and are commonly felt on one side of the head, particularly around the temple or behind the eye.
For some people, the headache is only part of the experience. Typical migraine symptoms include:
• Sensitivity to light and sound
• Nausea or digestive upset
• Visual disturbances or auras
• Fatigue and brain fog
Migraines are complex and can be influenced by many factors including sleep, stress, hormones, hydration, nutrition and nervous system function.
Interestingly, many migraine sufferers also report ongoing tension and stiffness through the upper neck and shoulders. While this may not be the root cause of the migraine, reducing physical stress on the body can sometimes help reduce the burden on an already sensitive nervous system.
When the Headache Starts in the Neck
One of the most common headache patterns we see in practice is called a cervicogenic headache.
The name sounds complicated, but the concept is actually quite simple.
These headaches originate from the neck but are felt in the head. These headaches commonly:
• Start at the base of the skull
• Travel into the back of the head
• Refer pain behind one eye
• Remain predominantly on one side
Typically, the pain begins around the base of the skull before travelling into the back of the head and sometimes behind one eye. It is often stubborn, persistent and tends to stay on the same side.
People often notice that sitting for long periods, looking down at a phone or working at a computer makes the headache worse.
The reason this happens lies in the way the upper neck communicates with the brain. The joints and muscles in this area contain a large number of nerve receptors that share pathways with regions involved in head and facial pain. As a result, dysfunction in the neck can sometimes be perceived as pain in the head.
This is one reason many people seek chiropractic care when headaches seem closely linked to neck stiffness or postural strain.
The Headache You Should Never Ignore
Cluster headaches are far less common, but they are often described as some of the most severe headaches a person can experience.
Many sufferers experience them in cycles, with headaches appearing at similar times each day for days or weeks at a time.
Typical features of a cluster headache include:
• Severe pain around or behind one eye
• Symptoms affecting only one side of the head
• Headaches that occur at similar times each day
• Episodes that come in “clusters” over days or weeks
Watery eyes, nasal congestion and facial flushing can also accompany the pain.
Because these headaches can mimic other serious conditions, proper medical assessment is always important.
Looking Beyond the Headache
One of the biggest mistakes people make is focusing only on the pain itself.
The headache is often the final symptom, not necessarily the cause.
At Chislehurst Chiropractic Clinic, we look at the wider picture. We consider how posture, spinal movement, muscle tension, stress levels, sleep quality and daily habits may all be contributing to the problem.
When someone attends with recurring headaches, we often assess:
• Neck and upper back mobility
• Posture and desk ergonomics
• Muscle tension patterns
• Previous injuries
• Lifestyle factors that may be placing additional stress on the body
The goal isn’t simply to mask symptoms. It’s to understand why the body may be producing them in the first place.
When Should You Seek Medical Advice?
While many headaches are related to muscular tension, posture or neck dysfunction, some symptoms require prompt medical assessment.
You should seek medical attention if a headache is sudden and severe, follows a significant injury, is accompanied by weakness, numbness, slurred speech, visual loss, fainting, or feels significantly different from your usual headache pattern.
Final Thoughts
Headaches may be common, but they shouldn’t simply be accepted as part of life.
Our chiropractors work with headache sufferers every day and are highly experienced in assessing the postural, muscular and spinal factors that can contribute to recurring headaches. Jason has a special interest in more complex headache presentations and has spent over two decades helping patients who have often exhausted multiple treatment options before finding our clinic.
Whether the problem is linked to posture, stress, neck tension, poor sleep or another underlying factor, understanding what is driving the headache is often the first step towards improving it.
For many people, improving movement, reducing tension and supporting healthy nervous system function can make a significant difference to how often headaches occur and how intense they feel.
If headaches are becoming a regular part of your week, it may be worth finding out why.
If you know someone who could benefit from this blog post, please share it with them. We offer a complimentary check to anyone who is interested in how chiropractic may be able to help them.
