09/24/2025
7 Common Causes of Stress Headaches (aka Tension Headaches)
1. Poor posture: Slouching, craning your neck toward a screen, or sitting for long hours without movement strains the spinal structures and muscles that hold you upright. Over time, this stress may lead to headache patterns that start in your neck and travel upward. This can lead to increased pressure and tension headaches.
2. Muscle fatigue: When you stay in one position too long, especially at a desk or in a car, your postural muscles become overworked. These muscles are designed for endurance, but even they need recovery. When they don’t get it, the tension can spread into your head and face. This can lead to sustained tension in the neck and upper back, increasing your headache risk.
3. Emotional stress: Your body responds to emotional stress as if it's physical. It may raise your shoulders, tighten your jaw, and shorten your breath. These physical reactions create a muscular pattern that reinforces headache symptoms, particularly during periods of high stress. This can lead to chronically elevated muscle tone and stress headaches.
4. Jaw tension and TMJ strain: Clenching or grinding your teeth, especially while sleeping, places pressure on the temporomandibular joint (TMJ). That stress can radiate into your face, temples, and head, contributing to chronic headaches. This can lead to jaw-triggered tension headaches.
5. Dehydration and skipped meals: When your body lacks water or nutrients, circulation slows, and muscle tissue becomes more prone to fatigue. Low blood sugar and imbalanced electrolytes can trigger tension headaches by making muscles less efficient and more prone to tension. This can lead to a drop in energy and the onset of tension-type pain.
6. Eye strain: Focusing on screens for long periods fatigues the muscles around your eyes and forehead. That tension connects directly to the muscles at the base of your skull and may spark or amplify headache symptoms. This can lead to increased upper cervical muscle tightness and an onset of headaches.
7. Poor sleep quality: Inconsistent sleep disrupts your body’s recovery process. Without deep, restorative sleep, your nervous system stays alert, and your muscles hold more tension than they should, increasing your risk of waking up with a headache or carrying one with you all day. This can lead to more frequent and longer-lasting tension headaches.
You may benefit from chiropractic care if:
Your headaches are becoming more frequent: A pattern of increasing frequency is a sign that your body isn’t getting the recovery or support it needs.
The pain lasts longer or becomes harder to ignore: Headaches that linger through the day or return quickly after relief may reflect a deeper muscular or neurological imbalance.
You notice stiffness, tightness, or reduced mobility: Tension in your neck, jaw, or shoulders often plays a direct role in the development of headaches. These physical signs offer clues about where to begin.
Your daily life is affected: If headaches disrupt your sleep, reduce your productivity, or take a toll on your focus and mood, it’s time to explore lasting solutions.
You’ve made lifestyle changes, and the symptoms persist: Hydration, posture, sleep, and stress management are important. But if your pain continues despite these efforts, deeper care may be needed.
How chiropractic care may help with tension headaches
Chiropractic care focuses on how your spine moves and how your nervous system responds to daily stress. When your joints are mobile, your muscles function more efficiently and your nervous system communicates more clearly. That combination may help your body recover from the tension patterns that contribute to recurring headaches.
