Top 4 Facts About The Connection Between Neck Pain And Headaches

By Author: Monica Quinn
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If you regularly experience neck discomfort during a migraine attack, you could be concerned that this is a sign of something more serious or that your migraine may not truly be a migraine.

Despite the fact that there could be other reasons for neck pain to develop along with a headache, migraine headaches frequently manifest together with this symptom. In addition to migraine, neck discomfort can also be related to other types of headaches.

Continue reading to discover more about the connection between neck pain and debilitating headaches if you're unsure if your neck pain is a result of your headaches or whether it's the cause of them.

1. There’s a connection between migraines and pain in the neck
One of the many migraine symptoms is neck stiffness, which typically develops on the same side as a headache.

Chronic migraine sufferers frequently experience migraine neck pain. Headaches that happen 15 or more times per month for longer than three months are signs of chronic migraine. Nearly 80% of those with recurrent migraines ...
... experience neck pain as a symptom.

2. Painful neck muscles can lead to tension headaches
When the muscles in your neck and head are tense or contract, they can result in tension headaches. Stress, mood swings, worry, head injuries, and any activity requiring you to keep your head still can all lead to muscle spasms.

Besides their culprits, tension headaches and migraine symptoms differ significantly in other aspects as well. For instance, while migraines are defined by throbbing pain on one side of the head, tension headaches are marked by a dull, pressure-like sensation on both sides of the head.

3. Neck pain that radiates to your head is a serious concern
Cervicogenic headaches are those in which the pain originates in the neck. Since cervicogenic headaches are secondary headaches rather than migraines, they differ from migraines with neck pain.

The major problem with a primary headache is the headache itself, not an indication of some underlying disease or pathology. However, cervicogenic headaches are brought on by an underlying neck disorder or injuries, such as a tumor, fracture, infection, osteoarthritis, or rheumatoid arthritis of the upper spine or by muscular stiffness or tension in the neck muscles.

This type of headache might be mistaken for a migraine headache because they often affect one side of the head, and the pain may radiate to the front of the head from the back of the neck and head.

The two types of headaches differ significantly in the following ways: Migraine headaches frequently come with additional symptoms like dizziness and visual abnormalities; they get worse with movement, and the pain may feel pulsating.

On the contrary, a decrease in your neck’s range of motion is usually present with cervicogenic headaches.

4. Your neck pain and headaches can be affected by how you sleep
Your migraines may be affected by the length and quality of your sleep. Sleep is essential for managing headaches, particularly migraines, and both insufficient and excessive sleep can trigger an episode.

Additionally, it's crucial to sleep in the proper posture, particularly if your migraine causes neck pain. If you have a secondary issue, such as neck arthritis, you might wish to change your sleeping posture. A cervical roll or pillow may also help. By helping you maintain a healthy cervical curve and reducing neck bending, a cervical roll can significantly improve your sleeping position.

The right posture is essential for preventing neck problems. Our posture may decrease while we work at a computer and get absorbed in our duties, which can lead to neck pain.

Greetings, my name is Monica. I graduated from New York Medical College and work as a nurse in Queens Hospital at the moment. The thing I love the most is morning jogging, because it is a wonderful way to keep myself in tonus. I like to communicate with people who care about their health. I became a vegetarian five years ago. Now my daily menu consists mainly of vegetables, fruits and different cheeses. I am a member of water polo team and I love gardening. I like to see how huge flowers grow out of the tiny petal, it dazzles me because I love spending my time outdoors. My goal is to visit all the USA parks, and then all over the world)