If you suffer from frequent headaches — especially the kind that start at the base of your skull or behind your eyes — your neck might actually be to blame.
Many people don’t realize that headaches and neck pain are often connected. The good news is that by addressing what’s happening in your neck, you can often find real, lasting relief from those nagging headaches.
How the Neck and Head Are Connected
Your neck, or cervical spine, is made up of seven small vertebrae that support your head and protect the nerves that travel to and from your brain. When the joints or muscles in your neck become tight, irritated, or misaligned, it can create tension that radiates upward — triggering headaches.
This type of pain is known as a cervicogenic headache, meaning it originates in the neck but is felt in the head.
Common Causes of Neck-Related Headaches
Several factors can lead to this type of discomfort, including:
- Poor posture: Hours spent hunched over a computer or phone place extra strain on the neck.
- Muscle tension or stress: Tight muscles in the neck and shoulders can pull on the base of the skull.
- Injury or whiplash: Trauma can disrupt normal joint motion and nerve function.
- Joint dysfunction: Misalignments in the cervical spine can irritate nerves and refer pain upward.
When these issues persist, they can cause a cycle of pain — where neck stiffness leads to headaches, and the headaches cause even more tension.
How Chiropractic Care Can Help
Chiropractic adjustments target the underlying dysfunction that causes neck-related headaches. By restoring proper movement and alignment in the cervical spine, chiropractic care helps to:
- Reduce tension and pressure at the base of the skull
- Improve blood flow and nerve communication
- Decrease muscle tightness and inflammation
- Restore balance to the neck and shoulders
Many patients notice that after chiropractic adjustments, their headaches become less frequent, less intense, or disappear altogether.
More Than Just Adjustments
At Live Well Chiropractic, we take a whole-body approach to your care. In addition to adjustments, your chiropractor may recommend:
- Posture and ergonomic advice to prevent strain
- Stretching and strengthening exercises for neck stability
- Lifestyle and stress management tips to reduce triggers
The goal isn’t just to mask the pain — it’s to correct the cause and help you feel your best long-term.
Stop Letting Headaches Control Your Day
If you’re tired of relying on painkillers or missing out on life because of headaches, it’s time to look deeper. Chiropractic care offers a safe, natural solution that treats both the symptoms and the source.
At Live Well Chiropractic in Kent, we’ve helped countless patients find relief from chronic neck pain and headaches — and we’d love to help you too.