Is your neck behind that headache? How posture could be a pain in your head

If you've ever felt a throbbing ache that begins at the base of your skull and crawls its way upward, your neck could be the silent troublemaker.

- Aayushi Gupta

Often mistaken for migraines or tension headaches, cervicogenic headaches actually originate from issues in the neck, making them a type of secondary headache caused by underlying physical conditions.

"With a cervicogenic headache, the pain you feel in your head originates from the bony structures or soft tissues in your neck. It is a type of secondary headache, which is a headache caused by an underlying problem in your neck," explains Dr Sheetal Goyal, consultant neurologist at Wockhardt Hospitals.

Pain in the neck and beyond

Cervicogenic headaches often start with a stiff or even just a tight neck.

The pain can spread to the back of the head, temples, or even behind the eyes. While the ache is usually moderate to severe, it rarely reaches extreme intensity. Other symptoms may include:

• Dizziness