Headaches are a common condition that causes pain in any part of your head. For some people they occur occasionally, for others, chronic headaches or migraines can severely impact daily life.
Today’s blog post will look at different types of headaches (including tension, migraine, cluster, and cervicogenic), while offering hints for prevention, management at home, and information on treatment options in the clinic.
Whether it’s stress, posture, musculoskeletal tension, or underlying health conditions, understanding the type of headache you’re experiencing can help find the right treatment, both at home and in the clinic.
Headaches
Headaches can be primary (when they happen on their own, and not as a result of another health problem) or secondary (resulting from another health problem).
Primary Headaches
These are standalone conditions, meaning they are not directly caused by another medical issue. However, they may be influenced by lifestyle, stress, hormones, or environmental triggers.
Sometimes primary headaches can be triggered by your diet, such as:
- Alcohol, especially red wine
- Certain foods, such as cheese, citrus fruits, processed meats and foods
- Large amounts of caffeine
- Not eating regular meals, including missing breakfast
- Not drinking enough water
Other common triggers include:
- Too much or too little sleep
- Poor posture
- Stress (or relaxing after stress)
- Spending a lot of time looking at screens
- Bright lights, strong smells or loud noises
- Hormonal changes (especially in females)
Examples of Primary Headaches
Tension-Type Headaches
The most common type. Often feels like a dull, tight band around the head or pressure across the forehead and scalp. Usually linked to muscle tension, stress, or posture.
Migraine
A complex neurological disorder, often involving throbbing or pulsating pain on one side of the head, accompanied by nausea, visual disturbances (aura), and sensitivity to light and sound. While migraines are typically classified as a primary headache disorder, they can also be part of other chronic health conditions such as hormonal disorders, autoimmune disease, or neurological conditions, making them more than “just a headache.”
Cluster Headaches
Less common but extremely painful. Intense, stabbing pain around one eye, often occurring in repetitive cycles or “clusters,” sometimes alongside eye watering or nasal congestion.
Secondary Headaches
Common causes of secondary headaches include:
- Sinus infections
- Eye strain
- Dental problems
- Middle ear infections
- Side effects of some medications
- Dehydration
- Withdrawals from caffeine
Addressing the underlying cause of these headaches is often the key to relief.
Cervicogenic Headaches
A cervicogenic headache is a secondary headache caused by dysfunction in the cervical spine (neck), including from joint dysfunction, muscle tension, or nerve irritation in the upper cervical spine. Although the pain is experienced in the head, the actual source is the neck.
Common causes:
- Poor posture or prolonged sitting (e.g. desk work)
- Whiplash or previous neck injuries
- Degeneration of cervical discs or joints
- Muscle tension and trigger points in the neck or shoulders
Symptoms may include:
- One-sided head pain that starts in the neck or base of the skull and radiates forward
- Neck stiffness or reduced mobility
- Headache worsens with neck movement or sustained posture
- Associated shoulder pain or dizziness in some cases
This is something we see in the clinic. Cervicogenic headaches often respond well to manual therapies such as chiropractic care, remedial massage, dry needling, and posture correction.
How are Common Headaches Treated?
While there is no complete cure for a headache, there are helpful treatment options available to help reduce the pain. If your headache is caused by a particular trigger, try to remove that trigger from your environment.
Self-Care Headache Management
For mild or occasional headaches, these simple strategies may help relieve symptoms:
- Stay Hydrated: Dehydration is a common but easily preventable trigger.
- Sleep Well: Prioritise consistent, quality sleep to reduce stress and fatigue-related headaches.
- Mindful Posture: Ergonomic setups at work or home can prevent neck and upper back strain. Hunching over while using devises is a common trigger.
- Gentle Movement: Stretching, yoga, or walking may reduce muscle tension and improve circulation.
- Apply Heat or Cold: A warm compress can relax tight muscles; a cold pack can reduce inflammation, especially with migraines.
Other Treatment Options
You may need to try a few different treatments before finding what works best for your headaches. Speak to your doctor or allied health professional about the best treatment options for you.
As well as medicines and self-care, other treatment options may include:
- Relieving stress
- Avoiding triggers
- Neck exercises
- Chiropractic treatments
- Remedial massage
- Acupuncture
In-Clinic Treatments at Feel Amazing Chatswood for Headaches and Migraines
When headaches are persistent or severe, clinical treatment can offer more targeted and longer-term relief. At our clinic, we offer a multidisciplinary approach to address both the symptoms and their root causes:
Remedial Massage
Targets muscle tension in the neck, shoulders, and jaw – often reducing the frequency and intensity of tension-type and cervicogenic headaches.
Dry Needling
Effective for deactivating trigger points in overactive muscles that may refer pain into the head or face.
Acupuncture
This traditional therapy can help regulate the nervous system, improve circulation, and reduce migraine frequency and severity by addressing energy imbalances and systemic inflammation.
Chiropractic Care
Chiropractors assess and treat spinal and joint dysfunction, particularly in the cervical spine, which is often linked to cervicogenic headaches and migraines. In our experience, gentle adjustments and postural correction can provide significant relief.
Can Headaches be Prevented?
Lifestyle changes can help you avoid triggers and prevent headaches. You might want to try:
- Eating healthy foods and avoiding any trigger foods you have identified
- Drinking enough water
- Improving your posture
- Exercising regularly
- Using techniques to manage your stress
- Having a good sleep routine (read our 3-part blog series on sleep)
- Limiting alcohol and caffeine
Holistic Headache Care
At Feel Amazing Chatswood, we believe in treating headaches with a whole-body approach. That means not just easing the pain but also working with you to understand what’s triggering your symptoms. Whether it’s muscle tension, stress, hormonal imbalances, or poor posture.
Our team works collaboratively to create a personalised plan that may include hands-on therapy, lifestyle advice, exercise, and education to help you prioritise your wellbeing.
Make a Booking
If headaches or migraines are interfering with your quality of life, you’re not alone, and you don’t have to manage it on your own. Reach out to our team to discuss how we can support your recovery with evidence-based, drug-free treatment options tailored to your needs.
References
- World Health Organization. (2016). Headache disorders. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/headache-disorders
- American Migraine Foundation. (2021). Understanding Migraine and Headache Types. https://americanmigrainefoundation.org
- Fernández-de-Las-Peñas, C., et al. (2006). Myofascial trigger points and tension-type headache: a review. Journal of Manual & Manipulative Therapy.
- International Headache Society. (2023). ICHD-3 Classification. https://ichd-3.org/
- Bogduk, N. (2003). Cervicogenic headache: anatomic basis and pathophysiologic mechanisms. Current Pain and Headache Reports.
- National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH). (2022). Chiropractic: In Depth.
- https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/headaches