What’s Causing Your Headaches?

If you’re one of the millions of Americans who suffer from chronic headaches, you’re not alone. Headaches are among the most common complaints we hear at our Miami Lakes chiropractic clinic, and patients often ask the same question: “What could be causing my headaches?”

The truth is, headaches can stem from various sources, and identifying the root cause is essential to finding lasting relief. While many people reach for over-the-counter medications at the first sign of pain, understanding what’s actually causing your headaches can lead to more effective, long-term solutions.

The Importance of Your Medical History

One of the first questions I ask patients experiencing frequent headaches is whether they’ve experienced any recent or past trauma. Even seemingly minor incidents like fender benders, sports injuries, or falls can have lasting effects on your neck and spine. Sometimes, the impact of these events doesn’t manifest as headaches until months or even years later.

Understanding when your headaches began and what was happening in your life at that time can provide valuable clues about their underlying cause.

The Cervical Spine Connection: How Your Neck Affects Your Head

Many chronic headaches originate from problems in the cervical spine—the seven vertebrae that make up your neck. Your cervical spine naturally has a gentle C-shaped curve (called a lordotic curve) that helps distribute the weight of your head evenly and protects the delicate spinal cord and nerves running through it.

When this natural curvature is lost or reversed, the vertebrae can place constant pressure on the spinal cord and spinal nerves. This pressure often manifests as persistent headaches, neck pain, and even shoulder discomfort.

Common Causes of Cervical Curve Loss

The modern lifestyle has created a perfect storm of factors that compromise our neck health. Here are the most common culprits I see in my practice:

Poor Sleeping Habits Many people use multiple pillows or overly thick pillows when sleeping on their backs, which pushes the head forward and strains the neck throughout the night. Over time, this can flatten or reverse the natural cervical curve. Your pillow should support the natural curve of your neck while keeping your head aligned with your spine.

Computer and Desk Posture If you work at a computer, you’re likely spending hours each day with your head tilted forward. For every inch your head moves forward from its natural position, it effectively doubles in weight on your spine. This forward head posture places enormous stress on your neck muscles and vertebrae.

Occupational Hazards Certain professions are particularly hard on neck health. Dental hygienists, dentists, hair stylists, and mechanics often spend their entire workday looking down at their work. This constant downward gaze gradually changes the neck’s natural alignment.

Text Neck: The Modern Epidemic We check our phones an average of 96 times per day, and each time we look down at our devices, we’re putting up to 60 pounds of pressure on our cervical spine. This phenomenon, aptly named “text neck,” has become one of the leading causes of neck pain and headaches in younger patients.

Reading Posture Whether you’re reading books, magazines, or tablets, prolonged reading with your head tilted downward contributes to the same postural problems as text neck.

The Timeline of Change

It’s important to understand that these changes don’t happen overnight. The loss of your cervical curve typically develops gradually over months or years. This is why many people don’t connect their daily habits with their headache symptoms—the cause and effect are separated by so much time.

The good news? When caught early, these changes can often be corrected through targeted chiropractic care.

Disc Herniations: When Soft Tissue Becomes the Problem

Another significant cause of chronic headaches is cervical disc herniation. The discs between your vertebrae act as shock absorbers, but injury, degeneration, or repetitive stress can cause them to bulge or rupture. When this happens, the disc material can press against the spinal cord or nerve roots, triggering headaches along with other symptoms like:

• Numbness or tingling in the arms or hands
• Weakness in the upper extremities
• Radiating pain from the neck into the shoulders
• Difficulty with fine motor skills

Disc injuries require proper diagnosis through advanced imaging such as MRI scans, CT scans, or myelograms. These imaging techniques allow us to see exactly what’s happening with your spinal structures and develop an appropriate treatment plan.

Understanding Cervicogenic Headaches

Let’s talk about a specific type of headache that responds particularly well to chiropractic care: cervicogenic headaches.

Cervicogenic headaches are a syndrome characterized by chronic pain on one side of the head (hemicranial pain) that actually originates from structures in the neck—either bones, joints, muscles, or other soft tissues. Unlike migraines or tension headaches, cervicogenic headaches have a clear mechanical cause in the cervical spine.

Characteristics of Cervicogenic Headaches:

• Pain typically starts in the neck and radiates to the front of the head
• Usually affects one side of the head, though it can switch sides
• Often triggered by neck movements or sustained awkward head positions
• May be accompanied by reduced range of motion in the neck
• Pain is often steady rather than throbbing
• Less likely to cause sensitivity to light and sound compared to migraines

The beauty of cervicogenic headaches is that they respond exceptionally well to chiropractic treatment. By addressing the source of the problem in the neck, rather than just masking symptoms, we can often achieve significant and lasting relief.

The Problem with Pain Medications

When headaches strike, it’s tempting to reach for the medicine cabinet. Over-the-counter pain relievers like ibuprofen, acetaminophen, and aspirin can provide quick symptom relief, and they certainly have their place. However, relying on medication as your primary treatment strategy has several drawbacks:

Medications Mask Symptoms, Not Causes

Pain medications work by blocking pain signals or reducing inflammation, but they do nothing to address why you’re experiencing headaches in the first place. It’s like putting tape over your car’s check engine light—the warning is gone, but the problem remains.

Long-Term Side Effects

Regular use of pain medications can have serious consequences:

• Liver damage: Acetaminophen (Tylenol) is the leading cause of acute liver failure in the United States
• Kidney problems: NSAIDs like ibuprofen can reduce kidney function over time
• Gastrointestinal issues: These medications can cause stomach ulcers, bleeding, and digestive problems
• Medication overuse headaches: Ironically, frequent use of pain relievers can actually cause rebound headaches, creating a vicious cycle

A Better Approach

While medications can be useful for occasional relief, the goal should be to identify and treat the underlying cause of your headaches so you need medication less frequently—or not at all.

The Hydration Factor: Are You Drinking Enough Water?

One often-overlooked cause of headaches is simple dehydration. Your brain is approximately 75% water, and even mild dehydration can trigger headaches and affect cognitive function.

How Much Water Do You Really Need?

While the old “eight glasses a day” rule is easy to remember, it doesn’t account for individual differences in body size, activity level, and climate. A better guideline is to drink half your body weight in ounces of water each day.

For example:

• If you weigh 150 pounds, aim for 75 ounces of water daily
• If you weigh 200 pounds, target 100 ounces per day

Keep in mind that coffee, tea, and other caffeinated beverages don’t count toward your hydration goal—they can actually have a mild diuretic effect. Stick with plain water as your primary source of hydration.

How Chiropractic Care Can Help

At Chiropractic and Rehabilitation of Miami Lakes, we take a comprehensive approach to treating headaches. Rather than simply addressing symptoms, we work to identify and correct the underlying structural problems causing your pain.

Chiropractic Adjustments

Specific chiropractic adjustments to the cervical spine can:

• Restore proper alignment and movement to spinal joints
• Reduce pressure on nerves and the spinal cord
• Improve nerve communication between the brain and body
• Decrease muscle tension in the neck and shoulders
• Enhance blood flow to the brain

Many patients experience significant reduction in headache frequency and intensity after just a few adjustments. Some notice improvement even after their first visit.

Corrective Care for Lasting Results

For patients with loss of cervical curve or other structural issues, we may recommend a corrective care program that includes:

Cervical Traction Devices: Specialized equipment that gently stretches and repositions the neck to restore its natural curve

Strengthening Exercises: Targeted exercises to build strength in the muscles that support proper neck alignment

Posture Training: Education and techniques to improve your daily posture habits at work, home, and during activities

Specialized Pillows: Cervical support pillows designed to maintain proper neck alignment during sleep

Lifestyle Modifications: Guidance on ergonomic workstation setup, proper smartphone use, and other daily habit changes

The Benefits of Addressing the Root Cause

When we correct the structural problems in your neck, patients often experience improvements beyond just headache relief:

• Better sleep quality
• Increased energy levels
• Improved concentration and mental clarity
• Reduced neck and shoulder pain
• Better posture and overall body alignment
• Enhanced quality of life

Other Types of Headaches

While cervicogenic headaches are common, they’re not the only type. Your headaches might also be:

• Tension headaches: Caused by muscle tightness and stress
• Migraines: Neurological events with distinct phases and symptoms
• Cluster headaches: Severe headaches that occur in cycles
• Sinus headaches: Related to sinus inflammation or infection
• Hormone-related headaches: Connected to menstrual cycles or hormonal changes

A thorough evaluation can help determine what type of headaches you’re experiencing and the best treatment approach.

Take the First Step Toward Relief

If you’re tired of relying on pain medications and want to address the root cause of your headaches, it’s time to schedule a comprehensive chiropractic evaluation. During your initial visit, we’ll:

1. Review your complete medical history and headache patterns
2. Perform a thorough physical and neurological examination
3. Assess your cervical spine alignment and range of motion
4. Discuss your daily habits, work environment, and lifestyle factors
5. Develop a personalized treatment plan tailored to your specific needs

You don’t have to live with chronic headaches. Many of our Miami Lakes patients have found lasting relief through chiropractic care, and you can too.

Ready to Get Started?

Contact Chiropractic and Rehabilitation of Miami Lakes today to schedule your evaluation. Visit us at ChiropracticandRehabilitation.com or call our office to book your appointment at 305-570-1965.

Your journey to a headache-free life starts with understanding the cause—and we’re here to help you find answers and lasting relief.

Disclaimer: This blog post is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult with a qualified healthcare provider about your specific condition and treatment options.