Do you suffer from headaches on a nearly daily basis? If so, you need to identify the underlying cause so you can start working toward a real solution. Here are 5 potential cause of chronic headaches. Some may surprise you.

#1: TMJ Problems

If the jaw is not opening and closing properly, that can certainly be a cause of headaches along with jaw pain that radiates from the neck to the ears. Tightness develops in the muscles as a result of the pain, and this causes tension headaches.

#2: Your Office Job

Sitting at a desk all day often leads to poor posture. Looking at monitors and mobile devices throughout the day requires a slight tilting of the head that can result in headaches or even migraines.

#3: Hypertension

High blood pressure increases the pressure in the head. This leads to headaches. In fact, daily headaches are often the first way a person realizes he or she is dealing with hypertension since it is this symptom that frequently sends a person to a health practitioner.

#4: Stress

You’re probably not surprised by this one. In fact, some researchers think this is the most common cause of headaches. There’s a reason that the most common type of a headache is called a tension headache, and stress can create that tension.

#5: Upper Cervical Misalignments

Actually, this sums up all of the above underlying issues. An upper cervical misalignment can affect the TMJ. Office workers often suffer from a misaligned atlas (C1). It is well-documented that upper cervical care benefits hypertension patients. Heavy stress can also affect upper cervical alignment. Therefore, it is imperative to have the upper neck checked if you are dealing with daily headaches.

Getting to the Root Cause of Headaches

Upper cervical chiropractors are specifically trained to detect and precisely correct misalignments in this sensitive part of the neck. Low force corrections make this a safe and effective way to find relief. Contact an upper cervical practice near you to learn more.