Causes of Headaches at the Back of the Head

Headaches at the back of your head can have various causes. It may be a minor injury or a symptom of other health issues. The type and location of the pain play a crucial role in diagnosing the cause of headaches.

Pain at the back of the head is commonly caused by tension headaches, which are usually not a cause for concern. However, sudden, severe, or recurrent headache pain in this area could indicate a serious underlying condition and should be evaluated by a doctor.

Pain in any region of the face, head, or neck is referred to as a headache. The pain can be dull or severe and localized to the face, skull, or neck. Headaches may also be accompanied by nausea, vomiting, or dizziness.

Causes of Pain at the Base of the Skull

There are several causes of headaches that result in pain at the base of the skull. Here are a few types of these headaches:

Tension headaches

• Tension headaches are the most common cause of pain at the back of the head and can last from 30 minutes to 7 days.
• These headaches can be triggered by severe stress, fatigue, lack of sleep, skipping meals, poor posture, or dehydration.
• Patients usually experience tightening around the back or front of the head, with pain ranging from dull to severe.
• Treatment includes painkillers, lifestyle modifications, massage, and sometimes relaxation techniques like meditation. However, frequent tension headaches require medical supervision for further treatment.

Migraine

• Migraine is a common type of recurring headache that often starts during childhood and becomes more frequent with age.
• It is most commonly seen in females.
• Symptoms include severe pain on one side of the head, along with nausea, vomiting, and visual disturbance. Patients are usually sensitive to light, noise, or smell. Physical activity can worsen the pain, which may last for hours or even days.
• Possible causes include emotional or physical stress, environmental factors, and dietary changes. Some medications, such as contraceptive pills, can also trigger migraine headaches.
• Treatment options include painkillers, rest in a darkened room, lifestyle modifications, hormonal therapy, and anti-migraine drugs like triptans, which are usually recommended by doctors to reduce the frequency and intensity of migraines.

Medication overuse or rebound headache

• Medication overuse headaches (MOH) can develop if a person uses too many painkillers.
• Symptoms include persistent headaches with severe pain, and headaches often recur after stopping painkillers. Other symptoms may include anxiety, irritability, tiredness, restlessness, difficulty concentrating, memory loss, and sometimes even depression.
• The best treatment is often to completely stop taking the painkiller. Initially, headaches may worsen but will quickly resolve. In more severe cases, it is important to consult a doctor. Physical or behavioral therapy may be needed to break the habit of using pain relievers.

Occipital neuralgia

• Occipital neuralgia is a rare but severe headache that typically starts at the base of the neck and radiates up to the head and behind the ears.
• It usually occurs when there is damage or irritation of the occipital nerves, which run up the back of the neck to the base of the scalp.
• Possible causes of nerve damage or irritation include underlying diseases, neck tension, or other unknown factors.
• Pain is usually severe with a burning or shooting sensation, and it remains on one side but often worsens with neck movement. Patients are usually sensitive to light.
• Treatment options include heat packs, rest, massage, physical therapy, painkillers, which can reduce swelling and inflammation, and in severe cases, oral muscle relaxants, nerve block injections, steroid injections, local anesthesia, or surgery to reduce pressure on the nerves or block pain impulses.

Exercise-induced headaches

• Exercise-induced headaches occur as a result of physically strenuous activities, and the pain may start immediately after exercise.
• Symptoms include a pounding pain on both sides of the head that can last from a few minutes to two days. These headaches may also mimic migraines.
• Causes include weightlifting, running, and sometimes sexual intercourse or straining during bowel movements.
• Treatment includes taking painkillers before exercise, avoiding strenuous activities, maintaining a healthy diet and hydration, and getting enough sleep.

Normality of Headaches at the Back of the Head

Tension headaches are typically the cause of headaches at the back of the head, which are usually not a sign of serious illness. Many factors, such as physical and emotional stress, alcohol or caffeine, dehydration, irregular eating habits, changes in sleep patterns, excessive painkiller use, poor posture, illness, genetics, and the environment, can trigger headaches in this area. Identifying and avoiding these triggers may help prevent headaches.

When to Seek Medical Attention for Headaches at the Back of the Head

Most headaches can be treated at home; however, if you experience secondary headaches or headaches with severe symptoms, it is important to consult healthcare professionals to rule out underlying causes.

If the headache pain you are experiencing is sudden, severe, or accompanied by confusion, memory loss, loss of balance, vision changes, slurred speech, neck pain or stiffness, or seizures, consult your doctor to determine the underlying cause of the headaches.

QUESTION

Types of Headaches

There are over 150 types of headaches, classified as either primary or secondary headaches.

The International Headache Society has classified headaches into three main categories:

Primary headaches

A primary headache is a headache with no clear underlying cause and may be due to overactivity or strain. Although not life-threatening, primary headaches can affect your quality of life. Here are a few common types of primary headaches:

• Tension headaches: These occur when the muscles of the face or scalp become tense, often due to physical or mental stress.
• Migraine headaches: Migraine pain is moderate to severe and can last from four hours to three days. Migraines have multiple causes and may be hormonally driven. Symptoms often include sensitivity to light, noise, or smell.
• Cluster headaches: Cluster headaches are rare but severe. They cause throbbing pain, primarily behind one eye. The pain may be accompanied by watery eyes and sensitivity to light.

Secondary headaches

Secondary headaches are headaches resulting from an underlying medical condition, such as infection, severe injury, tumors, bleeding in the brain, or other serious causes. Here are a few common types of secondary headaches:

• Sinus headaches: Sinus headaches are associated with sinus infections. The pain is deep and constant, typically felt in the cheekbones, forehead, or bridge of the nose. The pain worsens with sudden head movement or straining.
• Medication overuse headaches: These headaches occur due to excessive use of over-the-counter painkillers. They are among the most common severe headaches seen in hospitals and are also known as "transformed" headaches. It is estimated that 4% of the global population has chronic daily headaches, many of which are due to medication overuse.

Other headaches

This category includes any other headaches, facial pain, and pain involving the 12 cranial nerves.

• Trigeminal neuralgia (TN): This is the most common cause of facial pain, often severe enough to significantly impact the patient’s daily life and lead to depression.