What You Need to Know About Cervicogenic Headache

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Cervicogenic headaches are classified as a secondary headache because it is influenced and occurs as a result of health-related concerns of the body. This headache mimics pain felt elsewhere in the body projecting in the form of a headache. It can often seem like a migraine, but in fact, the pain stems from pain within the cervical spine.

That being said, headaches like clusters and tension headaches also stem from a source of pain in the body such as strained eyes, fatigue, and stress-related to name a few.

How to know you’re having cervicogenic headache symptoms

Cervicogenic headache symptoms may manifest in the following ways:

  • The feeling of a stiff neck
  • Pain when coughing or sneezing
  • Eye pain
  • Trauma of injury
  • A headache can also occur when maneuvering various postures

Before preventing the problem, it’s good to know how it is caused so that you can avoid it all together. Many people experience these headaches and the good news is that it’s treatable.

Main triggers include:

  • Excessive smoking
  • Insufficient sleep
  • Bad posture when seated at a desk
  • A lack of stretching to strengthen neck muscles
  • Tense shoulders due to bad posture
  • No breaks between long periods of sitting

Related Reading: Understanding the 5 Types of Headaches

How to prevent a Cervicogenic headache?

  • Maintain a good posture when seated at a desk for prolonged periods of time
  • Adjust the computer’s monitor so that you’re not looking down or far up
  • Performing stretches for the neck
  • Practicing good posture when walking, standing or sitting
  • Take breaks in-between work especially when required to be seated for long
  • Learn to do neck stretches

Cervicogenic headache treatment

There are several treatment options for a cervicogenic headache. Some treatment includes medication (prescription and over the counter medication), injections, as well as surgery amongst other.

Chiropractic treatment is considered to especially focused on neck and back pain and is therefore one of the leading alternative medical practices for cervicogenic headache. Since the headache is associated with neck pain, being able to lessen the pressure on your neck is essential to avoid it. One of the fantastic benefits of seeing a chiropractor to treat and help manage the pain is the fact that it is holistic. Going to the core of the problem, allows professional chiropractors to treat the entire problem and not just the aspects or symptoms associated with it.

Chiropractic care is non-invasive and has long-term benefits in helping patients lead a more pain-free, productive life.

Get the assistance you need to rid you from painful cervicogenic headaches associated with neck pain. Book your consultation now!

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