Neck pain and headaches are closely related ailments. A neck pain can trigger a headache too. This condition is treated as a tension headache. If you are experiencing a headache on one side of the face then you should identify that you are suffering from tension headaches
How are neck and head pain related?
Neck and head are related due to the fact that the base of the skull and tip of the spine lies in the neck. It is common to experience a pain in the neck that runs to the back or to the head causing tension headaches.
Types of tension headaches
There are types of tension type headaches. These are caused by problems in the neck.
Cervicogenic headaches
These headaches are also the result of dysfunction of muscles, nerves in the neck.
Symptoms
The carcinogenic headaches are accompanied by pain around eyes, pain while coughing, sneezing, stiff neck. You may also experience sensitivity to light, noise and a blur vision. You may also experience that your neck has a restricted movement generally only to one side. This tension-type headache is characterized by a steady pain in the head or face.
Occipital headaches
There are suboccipital muscles in the neck that allow movement of the head. These suboccipital muscles become tense and tender when exposed to a number of factors. These factors include too much stress on eyes, poor posture while working at desk, or sleeping, grinding teeth, injury in the neck, wearing new eyeglasses. These occipital muscles can trigger a pain in the head and a stiff neck.
Symptoms
Such a pain is identified as being a dull pain on one side. You may feel that your head has been tied around with a band.
What to do to get relief from tension headaches?
1. Do not slouch
Slouching can do more damage to your neck muscles and delay the healing process. You should sit upright with a support on your back to let your muscles stay at rest and relax while you are working. You must ensure that you do not sit for a long time in the same position. Movement helps fast healing.
2. Hot pack on the neck
You can apply some heat to your neck muscles that will help improve blood circulation and release toxins and nourish muscles with nutrients. 15 to 20 minutes of hot compresses twice a day can fasten muscle recovery.
3. Get your eyes checked up
Ensure that your tension headache is not the outcome of your eye strain. Get your eyes checked. Increased eye strain and pain around eyes stress the neck muscles.
4. Redesign your work area
Poor working conditions and posture while working can lead to a problem in the neck, shoulder back and ultimately cause tension headaches if not treated. Redesign your work space and help your neck align naturally while you are working at the computer
5. See a doctor
You can consult a doctor for some stretching exercises. They are the right people who know what exercise would be best for your neck and head.
