Headache Treatment
Headaches are one of the most common health concerns people search online for every day. Millions of people experience recurring headaches that interfere with work, sleep, and daily life. While many assume headaches are simply a normal part of stress or aging, they are actually signals from the body that something deeper may be going on.
At Team Health Care Clinic, headaches are something our providers evaluate and treat regularly. Many patients come to our clinic after months or even years of recurring headaches, often frustrated because medications only provide temporary relief. Understanding the underlying cause of headaches is the first step toward lasting improvement.
This guide explains the most common types of headaches, why they occur, and how addressing the root cause can help reduce or eliminate recurring pain.
Why Headaches Happen
A headache is not a disease itself. Instead, it is a symptom that something in the body is not functioning properly. While there can be many contributing factors, one of the most overlooked causes involves the neck and upper spine.
The cervical spine (the neck) plays a critical role in nerve communication between the brain and the rest of the body. When a joint in the neck becomes misaligned, it can irritate surrounding nerves and muscles. Chiropractors refer to this as a subluxation, which simply means a spinal joint is not moving or positioned correctly.
When this occurs, several things may happen at once. Muscles surrounding the neck tighten, nerves can become irritated, and tension may begin to radiate upward toward the head. Because the nerves in the neck communicate with the head and face, this irritation can easily trigger headache symptoms.
This is why many headaches actually start in the neck and travel forward toward the forehead or temples. People often assume the pain is coming from the head itself when the real source is the cervical spine.
The Most Common Types of Headaches
Headaches can fall into several categories, but most patients experience one of a few primary types. Understanding the differences can help determine what may be triggering the pain.
Tension Headaches
Tension headaches are the most common type of headache worldwide. They often feel like a tight band wrapping around the head or pressure across the forehead.
These headaches frequently begin in the neck and shoulders. When muscles in the upper back and neck become tight or strained, the tension can spread upward and create a dull, persistent headache. Poor posture, stress, long hours at a computer, and spinal misalignment can all contribute to this type of pain.
Many people notice tension headaches beginning at the base of the skull and slowly radiating forward. Because the muscles are connected throughout the neck and head, irritation in one area can easily affect another.
Migraine Headaches
Migraines are typically more intense than tension headaches and involve changes in blood flow within the brain. These headaches are often described as throbbing or pulsing and may be accompanied by nausea, light sensitivity, or visual disturbances.
Although migraines are considered vascular headaches, spinal alignment can still play a role. When the cervical spine is misaligned, it may influence nerve signals and blood vessel regulation. This can contribute to migraine triggers in certain individuals.
Migraines are also influenced by other factors such as hormonal changes, diet, sleep patterns, and stress. Because of this, evaluating the whole person, including spinal health, can be an important part of identifying the underlying cause.
Sinus Headaches
Sinus headaches create pressure in the face, particularly around the cheeks, eyes, and forehead. They are often associated with sinus congestion or infection.
However, many people who believe they have sinus headaches are actually experiencing referred pain from the neck. When muscles in the upper neck tighten due to spinal misalignment, they can send pain signals toward the face and forehead. This can feel nearly identical to sinus pressure.
A proper evaluation is often necessary to determine whether the headache truly originates in the sinuses or if it is being triggered by tension and nerve irritation in the neck.
Cervicogenic Headaches
The term “cervicogenic” simply means the headache originates in the neck. These headaches occur when joints, muscles, or nerves in the cervical spine become irritated.
Pain typically begins near the base of the skull and travels toward the temples or forehead. Neck stiffness and reduced range of motion often accompany this type of headache.
Because the cervical spine supports the weight of the head and houses critical nerve pathways, any dysfunction in this area can easily trigger head pain.
Whiplash Headaches
Whiplash injuries commonly occur during car accidents, sports injuries, or sudden impacts. The rapid forward and backward motion of the neck can strain muscles and disrupt normal spinal alignment.
Even after the initial injury heals, lingering misalignment or muscle tension in the neck may continue to trigger headaches. Some people develop chronic headaches months after a whiplash injury because the underlying structural issue was never fully addressed.
Concussion Headaches
Headaches related to concussion occur after a blow to the head causes the brain to move within the skull. This can lead to inflammation, brain fog, difficulty concentrating, and persistent head pain.
While concussion headaches may originate within the brain itself, the neck is often involved as well. When the head experiences sudden impact, the cervical spine frequently absorbs part of the force. This means concussion symptoms and spinal misalignment may occur at the same time.
At Team Health Care Clinic, our providers are trained to evaluate both possibilities and determine whether symptoms are coming from spinal dysfunction, neurological involvement, or a combination of the two.
Why Frequent Headaches Should Not Be Ignored
Many people assume headaches are simply a normal part of life. In reality, recurring headaches are the body’s way of signaling that something needs attention.
Occasional headaches may occur during illness or dehydration, but experiencing headaches frequently is a sign that the body is under stress or dealing with an underlying problem.
If headaches occur weekly or several times per month, it may indicate that muscle tension, nerve irritation, or spinal misalignment is contributing to the pain. Ignoring these signals can allow the issue to worsen over time.
Medications may temporarily dull the pain, but they rarely address the root cause. This is why many people find themselves relying on medication more frequently while the underlying issue continues to progress.
Chiropractic Care for Headache Relief
One of the most effective approaches to treating recurring headaches is identifying and correcting the underlying cause. Chiropractors specialize in evaluating the spine for areas of dysfunction that may be irritating nerves or creating muscle tension.
When a misalignment in the neck is identified, chiropractic adjustments are designed to restore proper movement and alignment to the joint. As the spine begins functioning normally again, pressure on surrounding nerves and muscles can decrease.
This often leads to reduced tension, improved mobility in the neck, and fewer headache episodes over time. Many patients notice that once spinal alignment is restored, headaches that once occurred weekly become far less frequent.
At Team Health Care Clinic in Champlin, our providers evaluate each patient individually. Because headaches can have multiple contributing factors, a thorough assessment may include reviewing posture, past injuries, lifestyle habits, and overall spinal health.
When to Seek Professional Evaluation
If headaches are becoming a regular part of life, it may be time to look deeper into what is causing them. Headaches that begin in the neck, travel toward the forehead, or occur alongside neck stiffness are often strong indicators that the cervical spine may be involved.
Seeking an evaluation allows a provider to determine whether spinal misalignment, muscle tension, or another factor is contributing to the pain. Addressing the root cause early can help prevent headaches from becoming more frequent or more severe over time.
Prefer to Watch the Video Instead?
Dr. Jay explains these common headache causes and treatments in more detail in the video below.
If you have been struggling with recurring headaches and want to understand what may be causing them, our team would be happy to help.
You can contact Team Health Care Clinic to schedule an evaluation with one of our providers. We take the time to identify the underlying cause of headaches so we can create a care plan designed to address the root problem rather than simply masking the symptoms.
Call our clinic at (763) 323-1492 or reach out through our website to get started. Taking the first step toward understanding your headaches could be the beginning of lasting relief.
