5 Common Migraine Triggers
Anyone who struggles with migraines understands that the best way to deal with these headaches is to avoid them in the first place. This starts with knowing what can trigger your migraines.
Is Your Headache a Pain in the Neck?
There are so many different types of headaches and headache causes that sometimes, people just learn to live with the discomfort, take pills to alleviate what pain they can, and wait for the headache to pass. But certain headaches may actually be caused by something you can control – neck pain.
The Neck Has More to Do with Headaches Than We Give It Credit For
Just at the base of the skull you’ll find a group of muscles, the suboccipital muscles. You may even subconsciously try to massage or stretch these muscles when you’re feeling stressed or have been hunched over a computer. These muscles in your neck can be a significant factor in stress and tension headaches.
Signs of Suboccipital Muscle Tension
In addition to a headache, there are other symptoms of suboccipital muscle tension. You may have had an injury from a car accident that caused whiplash. You may notice yourself grinding your teeth, feeling restless when seated because of unexplained discomfort, and more.
What Does the Headache Feel Like?
The headache caused by tension in the suboccipital muscles feels like a tight band tied around your head. Because inflammation of these muscles can also compress nerves, you may feel sharp pain above your eyes and over your head as well.
Treat Tension Headaches by Addressing Root Causes of Neck Muscle Pain
One of the most common reasons for this type of headache-inducing neck pain is having your head and neck in the wrong position for an extended period. By adjusting your computer to eye level and enlarging the screen size, you can minimize this tension. You can also focus on squaring your shoulders to prevent slouching. A yoga class can help you be more mindful of your neck muscles.
What Should I Do If I Think My Headaches are Caused by My Neck?
Because neck pain can be unique for each patient, we recommend making an appointment with Complete Neurological Care. Our physicians will evaluate your neck pain and may recommend trigger point injections. These tiny knots of contracted muscle can cause significant, radiating pain, especially around your neck. Your back and neck pain doctor will introduce a special anesthetic solution into the trigger point to release muscle tension.
Schedule an appointment today for back and neck pain treatment at Complete Neurological Care, located in Queens, Downtown Manhattan, Midtown Manhattan, Long Island, Upper West Side, the Bronx, and New Jersey. Our expert neurologists are equipped with the skills and technology necessary to diagnose and treat your neurological concerns.
You Might Also Enjoy...
3 Best Practices for Dealing With Sciatica
A condition like sciatica can have a huge impact on your life as you deal with shooting pain in your back and leg. Here are some tips for getting through sciatica and preventing it from striking again.
What We Want You to Know About Anxiety and Your Health
There are many roads to anxiety, and an issue with your health is certainly a big one. The connection between anxiety and your health is very much a two-way street, and we explore this link here.
Act FAST— Signs of a Stroke (and What to Do Next)
Someone has a stroke every 40 seconds in the United States, and prompt intervention can make all the difference. This means you need to recognize the signs, which we review here.
6 Early Signs of Parkinson's Disease
Many people associate Parkinson’s disease with tremors and shaking, but the condition extends well beyond movement disorders. Here, we look at some of the first symptoms that can develop with Parkinson’s.
The Many Faces of Seizures
When many people think of a seizure, they envision someone lying on the ground and convulsing. While this can, indeed, be the case, this scenario is far from the only way a seizure can present itself.