The Headache Doctor Podcast

Many people with headaches and migraines don’t realize their eyes may be contributing to symptoms. In this episode, Dr. Taves speaks with optometrist and dry eye specialist Dr. Pam Theriot about the growing connection between screen time, dry eye disease, eye strain, and headache symptoms . Dr. Theriot explains how prolonged screen use reduces blink rate dramatically—from about 21 blinks per minut...

In this episode of The Headache Doctor Podcast , Dr. Taves breaks down a question many people ask after years of suffering: What is a migraine — and why does the definition matter? Dr. Taves explains how migraines are diagnosed in today’s healthcare system, what symptoms typically qualify someone for a migraine label, and why migraine is often categorized as a primary headache —meaning it’s treate...

If you’ve tried everything for headaches or migraines and still feel stuck, this episode is for you. In this episode of The Headache Doctor Podcast , Dr. Taves explains why evaluating both the neck and shoulders is critical for long-term headache and migraine relief —and why so many treatment approaches fall short. You’ll learn why the upper neck (C1–C3) is the most common source of head and facia...

In this episode, Dr. Jono Taves breaks down the most common headache and migraine relief tools people buy for home use—especially around the holidays. From ice caps and nerve stimulation devices to neck massagers, traction units, and specialty pillows, he explains how each category works, what kind of relief it can realistically provide, and where its limitations lie. Dr. Taves organizes these too...

Many people with migraines are told their symptoms are purely neurological and must be managed long-term with medication. In this episode, Dr. Taves explains why that model often leaves patients trapped in a cycle of trial-and-error prescriptions without clear answers. He shares the clinical pattern that changed his entire perspective: again and again, patients formally diagnosed with migraines ex...

If you’ve been dealing with headaches or migraines and still haven’t started treatment, you’re not alone — and there are clear reasons why. In this episode, Dr. Taves breaks down 7 of the most common barriers that keep people stuck, like waiting for the next medication to work, feeling like it’s “not a good time,” trying to pinpoint triggers first, or being told it’s not a neck issue. He explains...

In this powerful episode, Dr. Taves sits down with award-winning film composer Grant Fonda , who spent more than 20 years living with daily headaches, severe fatigue, numbness, and symptoms so alarming they led to emergency hospital visits and a diagnosis of “complex migraines.” Providers offered medications, expensive lifelong drugs, and limited answers — but no solutions. Grant shares the turnin...

In this episode, Dr. Taves and Dr. Sarah Thomas explore how GLP-1 weight loss drugs—such as Ozempic, Wegovy, and Mounjaro—may influence headaches and migraines. They break down how these medications work in the body, how blood sugar stability impacts migraine symptoms, and why some people notice improvement while others experience worsening headaches. They also discuss an important but often overl...

In this episode of The Headache Doctor Podcast , Dr. Taves dives into the surprising connection between tinnitus (ear ringing) and the neck . Many people are told their tinnitus is purely an ear problem — but for some, the root cause is actually mechanical and related to the upper cervical spine—the neck. You’ll learn: How to identify if your tinnitus changes when you move your neck or jaw The dif...

In this episode of The Headache Doctor Podcast , Dr. Taves explores how issues with the jaw and airway can contribute to headaches and migraines. He breaks down how restricted breathing, muscle tension, and misalignment in the jaw and neck can impact the entire headache system — and why these problems often go undiagnosed. Listeners will learn how airway obstruction and jaw tension can affect oxyg...

In this episode of The Headache Doctor Podcast, Dr. Taves breaks down why heat can trigger headaches and migraines — whether it’s from exercising on a hot day, sitting in the sun, or just raising your body temperature. He explains how increased intracranial pressure, blood flow changes, dehydration, and stress on the neck and shoulders can combine to push your system past its threshold. You’ll lea...

In this episode of The Headache Doctor Podcast , Dr. Taves takes listeners on a fascinating journey through history — exploring how habits like toothbrushing and hand washing became universal health practices, and why head and neck movement should be viewed the same way. Using examples from dental hygiene and early medicine, Dr. Taves explains how simple, overlooked solutions — like brushing your...

In this episode of The Headache Doctor Podcast , Dr. Taves breaks down his proven Three Spoke Framework — a simple but powerful way to understand and treat nearly every type of headache and migraine. He explains that while headaches can present in many confusing ways — from tension and hormonal migraines to aura, dizziness, or neck pain — most cases fit into three key categories: Mechanical causes...

In this episode of The Headache Doctor Podcast , Dr. Taves explores why some patients fail to find lasting relief from headaches and migraines—even when they have access to the right treatment. Drawing from years of clinical experience, he explains how recovery often depends less on quick fixes and more on mindset, consistency, and trust in the healing process. Dr. Taves highlights three major bar...

In this episode of The Headache Doctor Podcast , Dr. Taves helps listeners identify whether their headaches or migraines might actually be rooted in the neck. He introduces a simple 12-question quiz designed to uncover the connection between neck issues and head pain. Dr. Taves walks through key signs to look for—such as relief from chiropractic treatment, history of neck injury, posture habits, o...

In this episode of The Headache Doctor Podcast , Dr. Taves explores the confusing and often frightening world of atypical migraines . Unlike classic migraines—characterized by one-sided throbbing head pain and light or sound sensitivity—atypical migraines show up in unexpected ways, including: Visual disturbances and aura Numbness, tingling, or weakness Stroke-like symptoms such as facial drooping...

In this episode of The Headache Doctor Podcast , Dr. Taves breaks down the complex world of vestibular migraines —a diagnosis often given when dizziness can’t be explained by ear, eye, or neurological tests. He explains why vestibular migraines are considered a “diagnosis of exclusion,” what symptoms patients may experience (from spinning vertigo to low-grade dizziness and nausea), and why medicat...

In this episode of The Headache Doctor Podcast , Dr. Taves breaks down what it means to be diagnosed with “military neck”—a reduced or flattened curvature in the cervical spine. He explains how posture, tight muscles, and movement patterns contribute to this condition and why focusing on symptoms and movement (rather than perfect alignment) is the key to relief. Listeners will learn how issues in...

In this episode of The Headache Doctor Podcast , Dr. Taves unpacks the connection between barometric pressure changes, headaches, and migraines. He explains how shifts in atmospheric pressure affect the joints—especially in the upper neck—by increasing joint pressure and inflammation, often leading to predictable pain during weather changes, altitude shifts, or even air travel. Dr. Taves also disc...

In this episode of The Headache Doctor Podcast , Dr. Taves shares three practical and effective steps that anyone can take at home to reduce headaches and migraines. These strategies are simple, actionable, and designed to give you more control over your health without depending on medication. If you’ve been searching for ways to manage your headaches day-to-day, this episode will give you the cla...

In this episode of The Headache Doctor Podcast , Dr. Taves explains why children may develop daily headaches, especially as the school year begins. He covers abdominal and atypical migraines, the role of the neck, and common school-related triggers like screen time, sitting, and sports. Parents will learn practical tips to help their kids find relief and avoid years of unnecessary suffering. Nover...

In this episode of The Headache Doctor Podcast , Dr. Taves breaks down the differences between migraines and tension-type headaches—two of the most common headache diagnoses. He explains how both can share the same underlying root cause in the neck, why the same person may experience each at different times, and how neither condition is hopeless with targeted neck treatment. If you’ve been told yo...

In this episode of The Headache Doctor Podcast , Dr. Taves explains why sinus headaches aren’t as separate from neck issues as many believe. He uncovers how problems in the neck can contribute to headaches that feel like they’re coming from the sinuses—and how these same neck issues are often at the root of migraines and other chronic headaches. Understanding this connection can open the door to t...

In this episode of The Headache Doctor Podcast , Dr. Taves breaks down the differences between hot and cold therapy for managing headaches and migraines. While both approaches can offer relief, they work in different ways and are more effective depending on the application time and cause of your symptoms. Dr. Taves explains when to use heat, when to use cold, and how each can support your body’s h...

In this episode of The Headache Doctor Podcast , Dr. Taves introduces the Resiliency Principle—a powerful concept that explains why true, lasting relief from headaches and migraines comes from building physical resilience through movement, not just passive rest. While naps, massages, and downtime have their place, they don’t create long-term change. Dr. Taves explains how engaging your muscles in...