Headaches are one of the most common health complaints around the world, affecting people of all ages and backgrounds. While many headaches are mild and short-lived, others can be chronic, debilitating, and difficult to treat without understanding their underlying cause. According to Dr. Jordan Sudberg, a respected pain management specialist, getting to the root of what’s causing your headache is the first step toward meaningful, long-term relief.
“Headaches are not a one-size-fits-all condition,” says Dr. Sudberg. “They can stem from a variety of physical, neurological, emotional, and even lifestyle-related triggers. Effective treatment starts with an accurate diagnosis.”
In this article, Dr. Jordan Sudberg breaks down the top causes of headaches and offers insight into how pain specialists approach treatment.
1. Tension Headaches: The Stress-Induced Culprit
By far the most common type, tension headaches are often caused by stress, anxiety, fatigue, or poor posture. These headaches typically present as a dull, steady ache on both sides of the head and may feel like a tight band around the forehead or scalp.
“Tension headaches are your body’s response to muscle tightness, especially in the neck and shoulders,” explains Dr. Sudberg. “Modern lifestyles—constant screen time, lack of physical activity, and high stress levels—make them nearly unavoidable for some people.”
Treatment tips: Stress management techniques like yoga, massage, and physical therapy can be incredibly helpful. Dr. Sudberg also recommends regular movement breaks and ergonomic adjustments to your workstation.
2. Migraines: Neurological and Often Debilitating
Migraines are not just bad headaches—they are a neurological disorder that can significantly impact quality of life. Characterized by intense, throbbing pain (often on one side of the head), migraines are frequently accompanied by nausea, visual disturbances (auras), and sensitivity to light or sound.
“Migraines are complex,” says Dr. Sudberg. “They often have genetic components and can be triggered by everything from hormonal shifts to food additives, sleep disturbances, and even weather changes.”
Treatment tips: Migraines often require a combination of lifestyle modifications, medications, and sometimes preventive treatments like nerve blocks or Botox injections. Keeping a migraine diary can help identify specific triggers.
3. Cluster Headaches: Rare but Extremely Painful
Less common but intensely painful, cluster headaches typically occur in cyclical patterns or “clusters” and are more common in men. These headaches usually affect one side of the head, often behind the eye, and may last for weeks before disappearing.
“Cluster headaches are nicknamed ‘suicide headaches’ because of their severity,” Dr. Sudberg notes. “They’re short in duration but extremely intense, and they often occur at the same time each day or night.”
Treatment tips: Fast-acting oxygen therapy, triptan medications, and preventive treatments such as verapamil or nerve stimulation may be used under a specialist’s guidance.
4. Cervicogenic Headaches: When the Neck’s to Blame
A lesser-known but increasingly recognized cause of chronic headaches is cervicogenic pain, which originates in the neck but refers to pain in the head. These headaches often result from spinal issues, disc problems, or tightness in the cervical muscles.
Dr. Sudberg frequently treats patients with this type of pain. “Cervicogenic headaches are often misdiagnosed as migraines or tension headaches. But if your pain worsens with neck movement or poor posture, your cervical spine might be the root cause.”
Treatment tips: Physical therapy, posture correction, spinal manipulation, and targeted injections can relieve cervicogenic headaches.
5. Sinus Headaches: Pressure from Within
Often confused with migraines, sinus headaches result from inflammation or infection in the sinus cavities. They cause a deep, throbbing pain around the cheeks, forehead, and eyes and are often accompanied by congestion, facial tenderness, or nasal discharge.
“True sinus headaches are typically linked to a bacterial or viral infection,” Dr. Sudberg explains. “If you’re experiencing recurring pain and sinus pressure, it’s important to rule out sinusitis.”
Treatment tips: Decongestants, antihistamines, nasal irrigation, and antibiotics (if infection is present) can provide relief. Chronic cases may require ENT consultation.
6. Medication Overuse Headaches: A Vicious Cycle
Ironically, the very medications people use to treat headaches can sometimes cause more headaches when overused. Known as rebound or medication overuse headaches, this condition develops when pain relief medications are taken too frequently.
“This is more common than people realize,” says Dr. Sudberg. “If you’re taking headache medications more than two or three times per week, you may be perpetuating the problem.”
Treatment tips: Gradual withdrawal of the medication under medical supervision is often necessary. Alternative pain management strategies are essential to breaking the cycle.
Final Thoughts
Headaches may be common, but that doesn’t mean they should be ignored—especially when they interfere with your daily life. With the right diagnosis and treatment strategy, relief is possible.
Dr. Jordan Sudberg urges anyone dealing with persistent or severe headaches to seek a comprehensive evaluation. “Don’t settle for temporary relief. There are effective, lasting solutions—especially when you understand the source of your pain.”
If you’re tired of living with headaches, consider consulting a pain management specialist like Dr. Sudberg who can help uncover the cause and tailor a treatment plan just for you.
