By Dr. Jason Black | Ethos Medical Group – Chiropractic & Longevity | Last updated: 10/15/2026
Key Takeaways
|
If you suffer from headaches, you already know how disruptive they can be. They can interfere with concentration, productivity, sleep, exercise, and family time.
For some people, headaches are occasional. For others, they become part of the routine: wake up with a headache, take medication, work through it, wait for it to return.
At Ethos Medical Group – Chiropractic & Longevity in Irving, we start from one important idea:
A headache describes what you are experiencing. It does not necessarily tell us why.
Different headaches have different causes. Treating every headache the same way may reduce symptoms without addressing what is driving them. Our approach is to evaluate the entire clinical picture, identify contributing factors, and build a protocol around the patient rather than just the symptom.
We don’t guess. We test.
Tired of headaches that keep coming back? Book a complimentary consultation or call 972-409-0016.
What Can Cause Headaches?
Pain in the head can arise from many mechanisms. Potential contributors include:
- Neck and posture: cervical spine dysfunction, forward-head posture, upper-back dysfunction, muscle tension, previous whiplash or concussion
- Jaw and nerves: TMJ dysfunction, clenching or grinding, nerve irritation
- Neurological: migraine disorders and other neurological conditions
- Lifestyle: stress, poor or irregular sleep, dehydration, certain foods, alcohol, too much or too little caffeine, blood-sugar fluctuations, prolonged screen time and eye strain
- Medical and medication-related: hormonal changes, sinus conditions, hypertension, certain medications, and medication overuse
In other words: not every headache is a migraine, and not every headache is caused by the neck. The key is determining which factors are relevant to your headaches.
Common Types of Headaches at a Glance
The pattern of your headaches can offer clues about their source. This table describes general patterns only. Many people have more than one type, and a proper evaluation is the way to tell them apart.
| Type | Common pattern | Often associated with |
| Tension-type | Band-like pressure around the forehead or temples; tightness at the base of the skull; mild to moderate aching | Stress, posture, sleep, prolonged computer work |
| Cervicogenic | Pain starting at the base of the skull and traveling toward the forehead or eye; often one-sided; triggered by neck movement | Neck stiffness, reduced neck motion, whiplash, long desk hours |
| Migraine | Throbbing pain, often moderate to severe; nausea; light or sound sensitivity; sometimes aura | Neurological factors; triggers vary by person |
| TMJ-related | Pain in the temples, face, ear region, or neck | Jaw clenching or grinding, jaw muscle tension |
Tension-Type Headaches
Tension headaches are commonly described as pressure or tightness around the head. Muscle tension, postural stress, sleep, ergonomics, and neck mechanics may all play a role.
Cervicogenic Headaches
A cervicogenic headache originates from dysfunction in the structures of the neck. You feel head pain, but the source may actually be in the cervical spine. Because the source may be mechanical, repeatedly taking medication does not necessarily correct the dysfunction producing the headache. Patterns can include pain beginning at the base of the skull, headache triggered by certain neck movements, one-sided pain, headaches after long desk work, or a history of whiplash or neck injury.
Migraine Headaches
Migraines are neurological disorders and can look very different from tension or cervicogenic headaches. Medication is particularly valuable for many migraine patients, and migraine management sometimes calls for coordination between conservative care and your medical or neurological providers. Our objective is not to label every headache a spinal problem. It is to identify contributing factors that can reasonably be addressed.
Headaches Associated With TMJ Dysfunction
The muscles and joints involved in chewing can refer pain into the temples, forehead, face, ear region, and neck. Clenching and grinding can also increase tension throughout the jaw and upper neck muscles. This is another example of why treating only the location of the pain can miss the true source.
Headaches and the Neck: A Connection That Is Often Overlooked
Your head sits on top of seven cervical vertebrae, and the joints, muscles, ligaments, and nerves of that region are highly interconnected. Dysfunction in the upper neck can refer pain into the head.
For example, a patient may come in with pain behind one eye. The natural assumption is that the problem must be behind the eye. Yet examination may reveal significant restriction and muscle tension in the upper neck, including the small muscles at the base of the skull (the suboccipital muscles). Where you feel the pain and where it comes from are not always the same place.
For more on how neck problems develop and why they recur, see our guide to neck pain.
Could Your Posture and Screen Habits Be Contributing?
Modern life puts a lot of stress on the neck. Think of the hours spent looking down at phones, working on laptops, sitting at desks, driving, or working from multiple monitors. As the head shifts forward relative to the shoulders, the muscles at the back of the neck may work harder to support it. In some people, over time, this can contribute to neck and shoulder tension, joint dysfunction, muscle fatigue, reduced mobility, and headaches.
Rubbing the muscles may help temporarily. Correcting the underlying postural and mechanical pattern takes a different strategy.
Medical Care vs. Corrective Care
Traditional medical care depends heavily on the type and severity of headache. Appropriate management may include over-the-counter or prescription medication, preventive migraine medication, muscle relaxers, lifestyle recommendations, neurological evaluation, and imaging or lab testing when indicated. These are important, and medication is especially valuable for many people with migraine.
However, medication designed to reduce a symptom does not necessarily address musculoskeletal or lifestyle contributors such as neck dysfunction, poor posture, restricted mobility, weakness, TMJ dysfunction, ergonomic stress, sleep habits, or dehydration. That is where a broader functional evaluation can add value.
We distinguish between symptom relief (reducing the pain) and correction (identifying and addressing contributors whenever possible). Both have value. The mistake is assuming they are the same thing. If you take medication and a headache fades, that is valuable. But if you are still having three headaches every week, an additional question deserves an answer: why are these headaches continuing to happen?
How Ethos Evaluates Chronic and Recurring Headaches
Our evaluation starts with your history. We want to know:
- When the headaches began, where the pain starts, and where it travels
- How often they occur and how long they last
- What aggravates them and what relieves them
- Whether you have neck pain, jaw pain or clenching, dizziness, nausea, or visual symptoms
- Whether there has been previous trauma, whiplash, or concussion
- What your workstation and sleep look like
- Whether stress, exercise, food, hydration, or other triggers are involved
Depending on your history, we may assess neck range of motion, posture, neurological and orthopedic function, muscle tension, joint mechanics, upper-back and shoulder mobility, TMJ involvement, and movement patterns. Imaging may be recommended when clinically appropriate.
Helpful tip: keep a headache diary
Before your visit, jot down when each headache starts, where it hurts, how long it lasts, what you ate and drank, how you slept, your stress level, and any medication you took. Patterns that are hard to remember often become clear on paper.
Our approach is organized around three areas: Structure (spinal mechanics, posture, mobility, and movement), Neurological Function (the nervous system’s role in pain processing, muscle tone, and balance), and Metabolic and Lifestyle Factors (hydration, nutrition, sleep, stress, caffeine, recovery, and exercise).
Ethos Stacked Care™ for Headaches
Patients often ask, “What treatment do you use for headaches?” Our answer: it depends on what is causing or contributing to them. Depending on your findings, Ethos Stacked Care™ may include:
- Specific chiropractic care when neck joint dysfunction is present, to help improve mobility and biomechanics
- Neck and upper-back rehabilitation to improve mobility, stability, posture, muscular endurance, and movement patterns
- Soft-tissue and recovery therapies for significant muscular involvement
- Class IV laser therapy when tissue irritation or musculoskeletal pain is part of the picture
- Postural correction for forward-head posture, prolonged desk work, or abnormal movement patterns
- Home mobility and ergonomic protocols to reinforce what we do in the office
- Lifestyle guidance on sleep, hydration, and other contributors
Why Use Multiple Therapies?
Consider a patient whose headaches involve upper-neck joint restriction, forward-head posture, tight suboccipital muscles, weak postural stabilizers, and ten hours of computer work a day. Adjusting the neck may improve mobility. But if muscular imbalance, posture, workstation stress, and stabilization are never addressed, the cycle may continue.
That is why we may combine specific chiropractic care, corrective exercise, postural rehabilitation, soft-tissue therapy, home mobility, and lifestyle changes. Different problems call for different tools.
The Goal Is Not Just Fewer Headaches
We track more than headache counts. Along with headache frequency and intensity, we look at neck mobility, posture, sleep quality, ability to exercise and work, activity tolerance, and overall quality of life. If you take headache medication, any changes to it should be made together with your prescribing physician. These measures help us tell whether you are actually progressing.
When a Headache Requires Immediate Medical Attention
Most headaches are not emergencies, but certain symptoms require urgent evaluation. Seek immediate medical attention for:
- A sudden, extremely severe headache, or a dramatically different pattern than usual
- A new severe headache after significant trauma
- Headache with facial drooping, new weakness or numbness, difficulty speaking, or confusion
- Loss of consciousness or a new seizure
- High fever with severe neck stiffness
- Significant vision loss
- Persistent vomiting
- A new severe headache during pregnancy or shortly after delivery
- A new headache pattern that starts after age 50
- A headache that steadily worsens, or that is triggered by coughing, straining, or lying down
These may represent a medical emergency and should not be treated as a routine musculoskeletal headache. If you suspect a stroke or other emergency, call 911.
Frequently Asked Questions About Headaches
Can neck problems really cause headaches?
Yes. Certain headaches, particularly cervicogenic headaches, can originate from structures in the neck. A proper examination matters because neck-related headaches may need a different strategy than migraines or other headache disorders.
Can a chiropractor help with headaches?
Chiropractic care may benefit some patients whose headaches have a musculoskeletal or neck component. The key is determining what type of headache you have and whether neck dysfunction is actually contributing.
Why do I wake up with headaches?
Morning headaches can have several possible contributors, including sleep position, neck posture, jaw clenching, sleep disorders, dehydration, medication, or other medical factors. Persistent morning headaches should be properly evaluated rather than assumed to have a single cause.
Can poor posture cause headaches?
Postural stress can contribute to muscle tension and neck dysfunction in some patients, which may contribute to recurring headaches.
Can TMJ problems cause headaches?
Yes. Dysfunction and muscle tension in the jaw can refer pain into the temples, face, head, and neck.
Do I need an X-ray for headaches?
Not necessarily. Imaging depends on your history and examination. If we suspect structural issues, degeneration, trauma-related changes, or other concerns where imaging would change management, X-rays may be appropriate.
How is Ethos different from traditional headache treatment?
Rather than starting with a predetermined treatment, we first try to identify the contributing factors. We then build a customized protocol that may combine chiropractic care, corrective rehabilitation, advanced therapeutic technologies, postural strategies, and lifestyle recommendations. Our goal is not just short-term symptom suppression, but to address function and contributing causes whenever possible.
Schedule a Complimentary Consultation
If headaches keep returning, taking another pain reliever may get you through today. But it may be time to ask a better question: why do I keep getting them?
If you are looking for help with headaches, cervicogenic headaches, tension headaches, or chronic neck tension in Irving, Las Colinas, Dallas, or the surrounding DFW area, contact Ethos Medical Group to get started.
Book online: ethosregen.com/appointments/
Call: (972) 409-0016
Ethos Medical Group – Chiropractic & Longevity
We don’t guess. We test.
About the Author
Dr. Jason Black is a chiropractor, author of three books, and host of The Vitality Code Podcast. He has been featured on CBS, FOX, NBC, and USA Today. Ethos has served patients since 1999 and has helped more than 30,000 patients, with hundreds of five-star Google reviews.
This article is for educational purposes and does not constitute individual medical advice or diagnosis. Headaches have many potential causes, and treatment recommendations should be based on an appropriate clinical evaluation. Individual results vary.
