Could Your Afternoon Headaches Be Coming From Your Neck?

It’s 2 or 3 PM, and right on schedule, that familiar tension builds at the base of your skull. You reach for pain relievers, assuming it’s stress or eye strain. But what if your recurring afternoon headaches aren’t starting in your head at all?

Understanding Cervicogenic Headaches

Cervicogenic headaches originate from problems in the cervical spine—your neck. The pain you feel in your head is actually referred pain from irritated nerves, tight muscles, or misaligned joints in your neck and upper back.

How to Tell if Your Neck is the Problem

Cervicogenic headaches typically start at the base of the skull and may spread to one side of the head. They often feel like a deep ache or pressure. If your headaches are accompanied by neck stiffness or if moving your neck triggers the headache, a cervical origin is likely. Timing matters too. If your headaches consistently emerge after hours at your computer or looking down at your phone, this pattern suggests a cervicogenic component.

The Desk Work Connection

Forward head posture is devastating for your neck. Your head weighs about as much as a bowling ball in a neutral position, but at a 45-degree forward tilt—common when looking at a laptop—your neck is supporting nearly five times that weight. Eventually, those muscles fatigue and compress the joints and nerves in your cervical spine. The result? Headaches.

Solutions Beyond Pain Medication

Your monitor should be at eye level, positioned an arm’s length away. Set a timer to stand and move every 30-45 minutes. Targeted stretches like chin tucks help counteract forward head posture.

When Professional Help is Needed

Persistent afternoon headaches that don’t respond to ergonomic changes may indicate spinal misalignments that need professional attention. At Family Wellness Center, we can help identify whether your neck is the source of your headaches and provide relief that lasts.

Contact us today to schedule an evaluation and take the first step toward headache-free afternoons.