Have you ever experienced pain at the back of your head? If yes, you will agree that aches at the back of the head can be frustrating and a painful experience.

So it is very important to take the treatment at the right time.

For this you need to have a clear cut idea regarding the various causes of this problem and its associated symptoms.

Kareline is here to provide you with a comprehensive guide that helps you to identify the reasons for headache at the back of your head.

1.Tension Headache

Yes, tension headache is one of the most common types of headache that affects everyone irrespective of age but particularly seen in youngsters and middle aged people.

Usually these types of headache appear as dull, pain around the head including the back portion.

If one is trying to analyse the reason behind this, there would be many reasons like stress, anxiety and poor posture. Especially if the muscles in your neck and scalp become tense, they contract and this would lead to pain at the back of your head.

2.Cervicogenic Headache

Cervicogenic headache originates from the neck and is felt at the back of the head.

As the name suggests the headaches occur due to problems related to the neck and spine. Such as, poor posture, neck injuries, disc disorders and so on.

It is observed that in these types of headache pain originates from the neck, spread towards the back of the head and sometimes even at the temple of the eyes.

3.Occipital Neuralgia

Occipital Neuralgia is a medical condition that happens when the occipital nerves get irritated or disturbed. Occipital nerve is a nerve that connects the spinal cord with the scalp.

This causes serious, sharp pain at the neck and head particularly at the back of the head.

Patients who experience this pain often compare it with an electric shock. Apart from this, occipital neuralgia may lead to tenderness on the scalp and sensitivity to light.

4.Improper posture

Several studies have proved that spending long hours on your desk is not good for health. It can strain the muscle in your neck and back which leads to headaches.

This is because the muscles in the neck and back are overloaded with work. The load of the work tightens the muscles and the pain can slowly radiate to the back of head.

This type of headache is mostly seen in people who lead an unhealthy and a sedentary lifestyle.

5. Muscle tension and strain

Muscle tension and strain can cause headache at the back of the head. This can occur as a part of restless life or heavy movements.

It can also be caused due to sleeping in an uncomfortable position.

When the muscle becomes tight and sore, it extends towards the back of your head. Stretching and massaging can help to reduce the pain to a great extent.

6. Dehydration

Yes, water plays a key role in maintaining the mechanisms of the body. Not drinking enough water will lead to dehydration which is always considered as a common trigger for headaches.

For this type of headache which is associated with dehydration, you may feel throbbing pain at the back of the individual's head.

7.Sinusitis

Inflammation related to sinuses may be a triggering factor for many and it is very common in the postmodern era.

Apart from pain at the back of the head, you may face difficulties like facial pain, runny nose, nasal congestion and so on.

8. Hypertension

Those with high blood pressure often experience headaches, especially at the back of the head. There are several other symptoms associated with it; a few of them are chest pain, dizziness and shortness of breath.

9.Migraine

It is generally believed that migraine causes pain at a particular side of the head but it can occasionally affect the back of the head too. The widely observed symptoms are throbbing pain, nausea,sensitivity to light and sensitivity to sound.

When To See a Doctor?

Though most of the headaches are harmless and can be managed at home, there are a few instances when you should take medical opinion. Like:

• Headaches which occur all of a sudden.
• The severity of the headache increase rapidly
• Headache accompanied with fever
• If the individual face difficulty in breathing
• Chronic Headache
• Headache that follows a head injury

Headache is a problem faced by a lot of people in the modern era. Majority of the youngsters face headaches because of their sedentary lifestyle and the inability to maintain work life balance.

So, though it is manageable to a certain extent, never hesitate to consult your doctor if it is severe, especially if you have a headache after a head injury.