Headaches are one of the most common reasons people look for help. Some are triggered by sleep, stress or screen time. Others start in the upper neck and travel up the back of the head. Knowing which kind you have is the first step to getting the right care.
Three common headache patterns
- Tension-type headaches usually feel like a dull band or pressure on both sides of the head, often with tight neck and shoulder muscles.
- Cervicogenic headaches start in the neck. They often begin at the base of the skull, may come with neck stiffness, and can feel worse with certain head positions.
- Migraines are often one-sided and throbbing, and may come with nausea or sensitivity to light and sound. Some people notice neck tension before or during an attack.
These patterns overlap, and you can have more than one. That is why a careful history and exam matter more than a label you picked from the internet.
Why the neck and jaw get involved
The joints and muscles of the upper neck share nerve pathways with the head. Long hours at a desk, a forward head position, poor sleep positions, clenching your jaw or an old whiplash injury can all load those tissues. When they stay irritated, headaches can follow.
What a chiropractic headache exam includes
- A detailed history: when the headaches started, what triggers them, and what you have already tried.
- A screen of your neck and upper back for movement, tenderness and muscle tension.
- A basic neurological check, so anything that needs a medical workup is caught early.
- A plan that may combine gentle hands-on care, movement and posture coaching, and, for some patients, laser therapy.
Dr. Devine treats headaches as part of the whole picture. You can read more on our headaches and migraines page, or see how Form & Function Chiropractic approaches headaches and migraines.
Things you can try at home
- Take short movement breaks every 30 to 45 minutes when you work at a screen.
- Raise your monitor so the top third is near eye level.
- Drink water and keep regular meals and sleep times.
- Notice patterns and jot them down. A simple log of when headaches hit helps your provider.
When to get medical care first
Seek emergency care right away for a sudden, severe headache that feels like the worst of your life, or a headache with fever and a stiff neck, confusion, trouble speaking, weakness or numbness on one side, vision loss, or a headache after a blow to the head. See your medical doctor promptly for headaches that are new after age 50, keep getting worse, or wake you from sleep.
Related reading
- Headaches and migraines care in Lake Oswego
- TMJ dysfunction
- Tech neck: how desk work reshapes your spine
- Neck pain care
Dr. Jeff Devine practices at Form & Function Chiropractic, 3 Monroe Pkwy Ste G, Lake Oswego, OR 97035. Call (503) 495-3454.
This article is general education, not medical advice. It does not replace an exam by a licensed provider. If you have a medical emergency, call 911.