At ChiroVirginia, we understand how stress headaches can disrupt your day. These common headaches—often called tension headaches—can start as a dull ache behind your eyes or at the base of your skull and spread across your forehead in a band-like pattern. While they may not stop you in your tracks like a migraine, they can linger for hours, draining your focus, energy, and enjoyment of life.

Many of our patients initially assume this discomfort is just part of modern living. But there’s nothing normal about persistent head and neck pain. Tension headaches often signal deeper issues like muscle tension, poor posture, spinal misalignment, or a dysregulated nervous system. At ChiroVirginia, we take a whole-body approach to address these causes and help restore your comfort and quality of life.

In this guide, we’ll explore what causes stress headaches, how to relieve them at home, and how chiropractic care can be an effective, drug-free solution.

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What Is a Tension Headache?

Tension headaches create a steady, pressing discomfort across your forehead, temples, or the back of your head. You might also feel tightness in your neck or upper back. While usually mild to moderate, the pain can feel relentless and affect your ability to focus or stay emotionally grounded.

There are two main types:

• Episodic Tension Headaches – Occur fewer than 15 days a month and are often triggered by stress, poor posture, eye strain, or lack of sleep.
  
• Chronic Tension Headaches – Happen more than 15 days a month and may reflect deeper issues like spinal misalignment or ongoing muscle tension.
  

Many people ask, “Is this a migraine or a tension headache?” Unlike migraines, tension headaches rarely involve nausea, visual disturbances, or throbbing pain. Instead, they feel like a persistent, tight band of pressure.

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Why Do Tension Headaches Happen?

Tension headaches don’t start in your head—they start in your body. Your neck, shoulders, and upper back contain muscles and joints that support posture and movement. When these areas become tight or restricted, they can compress nerves, reduce blood flow, and trigger head pain.

At ChiroVirginia, we often see headaches linked to:

• Postural strain from computer or phone use
  
• Muscle fatigue in the neck and shoulders
  
• TMJ or jaw tension
  
• Chronic stress affecting your nervous system
  
• Dehydration or skipped meals
  
• Eye strain from screens
  
• Poor sleep quality
  

Over time, your brain may become more sensitive to pain through a process called central sensitization, meaning even small stressors can cause headaches.

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Home Remedies for Stress Headache Relief

Here are some of the best at-home strategies we recommend to patients:

 Apply Heat: A warm compress on your neck and shoulders can loosen tight muscles.

 Stretch and Move: Gentle neck stretches or foam rolling your upper back can ease fascial tension.

 Hydrate and Eat Regularly: Dehydration and low blood sugar are common triggers.

 Breathe Deeply: Diaphragmatic breathing helps calm your nervous system.

 Check Your Ergonomics: Adjust your screen to eye level, sit with proper lumbar support, and move frequently.

 Take Breaks: Step away from screens, stretch, and move your body every hour.

These strategies can provide relief—but if your headaches keep coming back, it’s time to look deeper.

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When to Seek Help at ChiroVirginia

Recurring headaches are a sign that your body needs more than a temporary fix. Chiropractic care addresses the root causes of tension headaches by improving spinal alignment, easing muscle tension, and supporting nervous system health.

You may benefit from chiropractic care if:

• Your headaches are becoming more frequent or severe
  
• You feel constant tightness in your neck or shoulders
  
• You wake up with headaches or experience them after sitting for long periods
  
• Lifestyle changes haven’t provided enough relief
  
• Headaches are impacting your work, focus, or mood
  

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How Chiropractic Care May Help

At ChiroVirginia, our approach includes:

 Chiropractic Adjustments: Gentle, targeted spinal adjustments improve joint motion, reduce nerve irritation, and promote muscle balance.

 Postural Correction: We assess how your posture contributes to head and neck tension and help you make sustainable improvements.

 Soft Tissue Therapy: Myofascial release and other muscle therapies reduce knots and chronic tension.

 Lifestyle Support: From workstation setup to stress-reducing routines, we give you tools to prevent future headaches.

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You Deserve to Feel Better

You don’t have to live with daily discomfort. At ChiroVirginia, we help patients like you find long-term relief from tension headaches by addressing the physical and neurological roots of the issue.

Ready to feel better and function more fully? Book your consultation today at ChiroVirginia, located in the heart of Richmond Virginia Metroplex – Short Pump-Glen Allen Area.

We’ll help you move better, feel better, and live pain-free—one adjustment at a time.

 Serving  Richmond Virginia Metroplex – Short Pump-Glen Allen Area.

 Call us at 804-929-8789 or visit www.chirovirginia.com