Headaches and Migraines

Headaches are so common that many people stop treating them as a problem worth solving. They take something for the pain, get through the day, and repeat that cycle for years.

The more useful approach is to work out which type of headache you actually get, because tension headaches, neck-related headaches, and migraines behave differently and respond to different things.

Tension-type headaches

These are the most frequent kind. The pain is usually described as a band of pressure around the head, on both sides, dull rather than throbbing, building gradually through the day.

They are strongly associated with sustained postures, screen work, jaw clenching, stress, poor sleep, and dehydration. The muscles at the base of the skull and across the shoulders are often tight and tender.

Cervicogenic headaches: when the neck is the source

A cervicogenic headache originates from the joints, discs, or muscles of the upper neck and is felt in the head. It is easy to mistake for a migraine or tension headache.

Features that point toward the neck as the source:

• Usually one-sided, and consistently the same side
• Pain starting at the base of the skull and spreading forward toward the temple or behind the eye
• Neck stiffness or reduced turning range on the painful side
• Triggered or worsened by neck positions and sustained postures
• Tenderness in the upper neck when pressed

Migraine

Migraine is a neurological condition, not simply a severe headache. It often involves throbbing one-sided pain, sensitivity to light, sound, or smell, nausea, and worsening with activity. Some people experience visual or sensory changes beforehand.

Migraine management usually involves identifying triggers and, for many people, medical care. Neck and postural factors can still contribute to how often attacks occur, which is where musculoskeletal care can play a supporting role alongside your physician's management.

Keeping a simple headache diary

Two weeks of notes reveals more than memory does. For each headache, record:

• Day, time it began, and how long it lasted
• Where the pain was and what it felt like
• Sleep the night before, meals, caffeine, and water intake
• Hours of screen or driving time, and stress level
• Anything that helped

Practical steps that often reduce frequency

None of these replace an assessment, but they address the most common contributing factors:

• Raise your screen so the top of it sits near eye level
• Break up sustained postures every 30 to 40 minutes with a short movement
• Keep sleep and meal timing reasonably consistent
• Stay hydrated and watch large swings in caffeine intake
• Address jaw clenching, particularly at night, with your dentist if relevant

How chiropractic care fits in

Assessment focuses on determining whether your headaches have a mechanical component from the neck and upper back. That involves examining joint motion in the upper cervical spine, muscle tension patterns, posture, and how your symptoms respond to specific movements.

Where a neck contribution is found, care typically combines joint work, soft tissue treatment, and targeted exercise, along with the workstation and habit changes that keep it from returning. Where it is not the primary driver, you should be told so and directed appropriately.

When to seek medical attention

Some headaches need prompt medical assessment rather than musculoskeletal care:

• A sudden, severe headache unlike any you have had before
• Headache following a head injury
• Headache with fever, stiff neck, confusion, weakness, or vision loss
• A clear change in the pattern, frequency, or severity of your usual headaches
• New headaches beginning after age 50

The takeaway

Recurring headaches usually have identifiable contributors. Sorting out which type you get is the step that makes everything else more effective. If yours are frequent enough to plan your week around, they are worth having assessed.