Many people deal with migraines and headaches at some point, and the pain can be so intense it stops them in their tracks. Your pain may start as mild pressure and turn into throbbing discomfort that affects your daily life and your mood.
At Kairos Integrative Care, we focus on helping you understand why headaches happen and how you can take steps to manage them.
With the latest research and practical treatment approaches, we guide you toward safe and lasting relief.
Why Do Headaches Happen?
Headaches usually start when the brain and nerves send out pain signals. This can be triggered by stress, muscle tension, chemical shifts, or even pressure in your blood vessels.
Stress, for example, often makes the muscles in your neck and head tighten, putting pressure on the nerves and causing pain. Migraines occur when brain chemicals like serotonin go out of balance. Sinus issues, high blood pressure, or even something simple like bad posture can also be reasons for headaches.
Types of Headaches
There are different types of headaches, and each type has different causes and symptoms. It is important to understand the type, so that you can use the right approach to get rid of it.
Tension/Stress Headaches
These are the most common. You might feel it like a tight band around your forehead, temples, or the back of your head. It usually occurs when you sit for long hours at a desk, or when you are under stress.
Migraine Headaches
Migraines are stronger. They usually hit one side of the head, such as a headache right side of the head or left, and can last for hours or days. You might also feel sick to your stomach or notice that lights and sounds feel unbearable.
You can easily differentiate between migraine vs headache:
- A headache is usually just pain or pressure in the head.
- Migraine is the pain plus other symptoms like nausea, vision changes, or sensitivity to light and sound.
Cluster Headaches
Cluster headaches are less common but very intense. The pain is usually around one eye and can feel sharp or burning. They often come in cycles, showing up daily for weeks and then disappearing for a while.
Sinus Headaches
When your sinuses are inflamed, pressure builds in your forehead, cheeks, and around your eyes. Your pain gets worse, especially when you lean forward.
Temple Headaches
When the pain sits on the sides of your head, it is often tension-related and can sometimes be a sign of migraines. These headaches usually feel like a steady, tight pressure and may get worse when stress or fatigue builds up.
Back of the Head Headaches
Pain at the back of your head often comes from neck strain or poor posture. It occurs when you spend hours at a computer, looking down at your phone, or even sleeping in an awkward position. These poor habits put pressure on muscles and nerves in your neck, which then spreads into the back of your head.
High Blood Pressure Headaches
Headaches from high blood pressure are often felt at the back of the head or around the temples. You may feel dizziness, blurred vision, or even nosebleeds along with the headache.
These headaches can be a warning sign of something more serious. They’re not the kind you should ignore. If your pain feels different than usual, it is best to get it checked.
What Can Cause Migraines?
Headaches usually occur due to your poor lifestyle or continuous stress. There can also be other reasons, such as:
- Dehydration: If you don’t drink enough water, you may end up with a dull, nagging headache that usually goes away once you rehydrate.
- Poor Sleep: When you skip sleep or have an irregular schedule, your body gets out of balance, and that can easily cause a headache.
- Eye Strain: Long hours on screens or reading without breaks can create pressure around the eyes and temples.
- High Blood Pressure: Uncontrolled blood pressure may lead to headaches, often at the back of the head or temples.
- Your Diet: If you have too much caffeine, alcohol, or processed food, this can trigger a headache easily.
- Neck and Shoulder Tension: Sitting too long, bad posture, or muscle stiffness can send pain up into your head.
- Sinus Issues: Infections or allergies may cause pressure headaches around your forehead or eyes.
Stabilizing Your Body’s Baseline
Your body’s internal balance plays a big role in how often migraines appear. When your brain’s energy and blood vessel stability are supported, headaches become easier to control.
Some simple but powerful habits include:
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Hydration + electrolytes: Make sure you’re drinking enough water and replenishing minerals like sodium and potassium.
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Regular meals with protein and healthy fats: Skipping meals or blood sugar crashes can trigger migraines.
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Consistent sleep and wake times: Sudden changes in your sleep schedule often make headaches worse.
When your body feels stable and nourished, your brain and nervous system are better equipped to prevent pain signals from flaring up.
Magnesium for Migraines
People are asking us a lot, is magnesium good for migraines? Now research confirms that people who have migraines often have lower magnesium levels. Magnesium is very crucial in calming the nervous system and relaxing your blood vessels.
You should include magnesium in your diet to avoid frequent migraines. The best sources of magnesium are:
- Leafy greens like spinach, kale,
- Nuts and seeds like almonds, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds,
- Whole grains meal such as brown rice, oats, quinoa,
- Legumes like black beans, lentils such as chickpeas, bananas, and avocados.
You can also consider a magnesium supplement if your diet alone isn’t enough, but always check with your doctor before starting one.
Along with magnesium, other nutrients have also been shown to support migraine prevention and brain energy, such as:
- Riboflavin (Vitamin B2) helps your brain use energy more efficiently
- CoQ10 supports healthy cell energy and vascular health
- Omega-3 fatty acids reduce your inflammation
- NAC or glutathione provides you antioxidant protection for the brain
How to Get Rid of a Headaches
You can easily manage your migraines and headaches by using short-term relief and long-term relief methods.
- If you’re dehydrated, drink water right away. Many headaches ease once your body is rehydrated.
- A cold pack can calm down migraines, while a warm compress on the back of your neck or head works well for tension headaches.
- You should also gently massage your temples, neck, or shoulders to loosen your tight muscles.
- Resting in a dark, quiet room helps migraines feel less intense and gives your body a chance to recover.
- You can also opt for pain relievers like ibuprofen can help, but always follow the directions carefully.
- You can sip a small amount of caffeine. This can sometimes help with migraines, but too much can make things worse.
- Simple stretches and paying attention to posture can ease headaches, especially those that start in your neck or shoulders.
- Some supplements, like riboflavin (Vitamin B2), coenzyme Q10, and magnesium, may help prevent migraines when taken regularly, but consult your healthcare provider first.
- You can also do aromatherapy, which is done by inhaling peppermint or lavender essential oils. This helps to relax your body and ease your pain.
We believe that the most effective home remedy to avoid headaches is staying hydrated.
For many people, it is the safest way to prevent and stop headaches. At Kairos, we remind our patients that quick fixes can help, but long-term habits like staying hydrated, proper sleep are what keep headaches from controlling your life.
When To Visit Your Healthcare Provider
Migraines and Headaches may seem harmless, but some may signal a higher risk that requires quick attention. You should visit your doctor if you see:
- A sudden, severe headache than before
- Persistent pain on one side, especially around the eye
- Headaches with vision changes or numbness,
- You have a headache along with fever and neck stiffness
At Kairos care, with clinics in Houston, Sugar Land, and Rosenberg, we focus on more than just easing symptoms. We work with you to find the root cause.
Our functional medicine approach looks at underlying triggers such as hormone imbalances, nutritional deficiencies, inflammation, posture issues, or hidden conditions like high blood pressure and sinus problems.
Conclusion
If your migraines and headaches keep showing up and interfering with your life, it’s worth finding a plan that truly works for you. At Kairos Integrative Care, Lola, one of our board-certified practitioners, combines medical therapies and personalized guidance to ease your headaches and prevent them from coming back.
We see patients in Houston, Sugar Land, Richmond, and nearby areas (77046 & 77478) and accept major insurance plans, including Blue Cross, Aetna, Ambetter, Cigna, and more.
New patients are always welcome, and if visiting the clinic isn’t possible, telemedicine appointments are available across the entire state of Texas.
Book your appointment today!
