Headaches are one of the most common health problems for everyone. However, the location of the headache experienced tends to be different. There are several points of location that often feel pain when you have a headache, such as at the back of the head or also known as a back headache.

Back headache can be mild or severe. If the condition is mild, the headache will subside on its own. However, for more severe conditions, headache usually does not go away and followed by other symptoms.

In general, here are some causes of back headache that you need to know.

 

1.Exertional Headache

This type of headache appears because it is triggered by various physical activities. The pain gets worse when activity is heavy enough, such as running, having sex, coughing, or straining during bowel movements.

The pain generally occurs in the back of the head, behind the eyes or in the entire head. This condition usually only lasts about 20 minutes and is not a sign of serious illness.

 

2. Tension Headache

Tension headaches can also be the cause of back headaches. Triggers vary, ranging from lack of sleep, stress, tension, or hunger. The pain caused by tension headaches is generally not too severe so it will not interfere with the activities.

The symptoms include a feeling of tension or pressure on the forehead or the back of the head and neck for about 30 minutes to several days.

 

3. Chronic Daily Headache

As the name suggests, chronic daily headaches occur every day for three months and are more common in women. Having experienced an injury on the neck or fatigue can trigger this type of headache.

When it recurs, you will feel discomfort in the neck and back of the head due to tight neck muscles. Physiotherapy is the recommended treatment method for people with chronic daily headaches.

 

4. Basilar Migraine

While migraine generally occur on only one side of the head, basilar migraines will cause pain in the back of the head. According to the American Migraine Foundation, in its early stages, basilar migraine causes symptoms, such as blurred vision, temporary blindness, dizziness, ringing in the ears, and difficulty speaking or hearing.

Although the symptoms are quite disturbing, this headache generally do not make the sufferer weak. However, basilar migraine should not be underestimated because in certain cases, this disease is associated with stroke.

 

5.Occipital Neuralgia

Occipital neuralgia is also one of the causes of back headache. This headache can occur when the occipital nerve which is around the spinal cord from the base of the neck to the head is disturbed.

A compressed or irritated occipital nerve can be triggered by the experience of injury, inflammation, or a pinched nerve.  This causes occipital neuralgia.

 

6. Poor Posture

Poor posture can also be the cause of back headaches. For example, when we often bend over during daily activities, it can cause tension in the back and neck area which results in back headaches.

 

7. Cluster Headache

Another cause of back headache is cluster headaches. In this condition, the problem occurs in the vertebrae in the neck area. It causes back pain, especially when you lie down.