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Everyone gets a headache from time to time. But there are several different types of headaches, and they can vary tremendously in severity and in the degree to which they can disrupt your life.
Cluster headaches and migraines can put you out of action for days, whereas a normal headache can often be dealt with by taking an over-the-counter painkiller. But when a headache becomes chronic, or migraines hit you regularly, closer inspection of your lifestyle and medical issues is called for. Ninety percent of headaches are normal tension headaches. Migraines are vascular headaches and are much more severe.
There are many risk factors for headaches, and the more of them are present, the greater the chances are of your getting a headache. But not all people respond in the same way to the same risk factors, and at the same time there are so many possible things that can cause headaches, so that the single cause may be difficult to pinpoint.
When you have a headache, it is not your brain tissue generating sensations of pain, even though it feels like it. The pain usually emanates from the tissues covering the brain, the structures at the base of the brain, or the blood vessels and muscle tissue around the scalp, face or neck.
Here are some (by no means all) of the main risk factors for headaches:
Medication overuse. Taking OTC painkillers of any kind for longer than the recommended time, or exceeding the recommended dosage can cause headaches.
Withdrawal headaches. Headaches can be caused by withdrawal from nicotine, caffeine or alcohol.
Dental problems. If you grind your teeth or clench your jaw at night, this could cause a chronic tension headache.
Smoke or chemical exposure. Smoking, or even inhaling second-hand smoke or chemical fumes could trigger a headache. Pollution or exposure to chemical solvents or poisons could also be triggers.
Skipping meals. Headaches are often brought on by the skipping of meals, most often breakfast. This can cause your blood sugar levels to drop dramatically.
Certain foodstuffs. This obviously varies from person to person. The consumption of monosodium glutamate and sulphites could be the cause of your headache. Other foodstuffs, often associated with migraines, can also lead to your having a normal headache. These include yellow cheese and other dairy products, certain preservatives such as sodium nitrate, caffeine, nuts, chocolate, yeast, soya products, fermented or pickled foods, processed meats - to name but a few.
Awkward posture. If your chair at work is too high or too low, or you slouch at your desk this could lead to headaches. If you fall asleep in an uncomfortable position, the same thing can happen.
Ice cream headaches. Swallowing very cold food in large quantities could cause a sudden onset of pain in your head.
Exhaustion. A lack of sleep and general exhaustion can definitely trigger a headache.
Hormonal fluctuations. Many women complain of headaches when they are premenstrual. This could be one of the reasons why tension-type headaches are more common among women.
Head or neck injury. If you have experienced whiplash, or had another head or neck injury, that could also be the culprit.
Any one of 300 medical conditions. Over 300 medical conditions, such as depression, anxiety and sleep apnoea can have a headache as one of its symptoms. Sinus problems are very common as the culprit in this regard. However, never try to diagnose the cause of your headache by yourself: if it is recurrent, you need to get to a doctor.
Cluster headaches and migraines can put you out of action for days, whereas a normal headache can often be dealt with by taking an over-the-counter painkiller. But when a headache becomes chronic, or migraines hit you regularly, closer inspection of your lifestyle and medical issues is called for. Ninety percent of headaches are normal tension headaches. Migraines are vascular headaches and are much more severe.
There are many risk factors for headaches, and the more of them are present, the greater the chances are of your getting a headache. But not all people respond in the same way to the same risk factors, and at the same time there are so many possible things that can cause headaches, so that the single cause may be difficult to pinpoint.
When you have a headache, it is not your brain tissue generating sensations of pain, even though it feels like it. The pain usually emanates from the tissues covering the brain, the structures at the base of the brain, or the blood vessels and muscle tissue around the scalp, face or neck.
Here are some (by no means all) of the main risk factors for headaches:
Medication overuse. Taking OTC painkillers of any kind for longer than the recommended time, or exceeding the recommended dosage can cause headaches.
Withdrawal headaches. Headaches can be caused by withdrawal from nicotine, caffeine or alcohol.
Dental problems. If you grind your teeth or clench your jaw at night, this could cause a chronic tension headache.
Smoke or chemical exposure. Smoking, or even inhaling second-hand smoke or chemical fumes could trigger a headache. Pollution or exposure to chemical solvents or poisons could also be triggers.
Skipping meals. Headaches are often brought on by the skipping of meals, most often breakfast. This can cause your blood sugar levels to drop dramatically.
Certain foodstuffs. This obviously varies from person to person. The consumption of monosodium glutamate and sulphites could be the cause of your headache. Other foodstuffs, often associated with migraines, can also lead to your having a normal headache. These include yellow cheese and other dairy products, certain preservatives such as sodium nitrate, caffeine, nuts, chocolate, yeast, soya products, fermented or pickled foods, processed meats - to name but a few.
Awkward posture. If your chair at work is too high or too low, or you slouch at your desk this could lead to headaches. If you fall asleep in an uncomfortable position, the same thing can happen.
Ice cream headaches. Swallowing very cold food in large quantities could cause a sudden onset of pain in your head.
Exhaustion. A lack of sleep and general exhaustion can definitely trigger a headache.
Hormonal fluctuations. Many women complain of headaches when they are premenstrual. This could be one of the reasons why tension-type headaches are more common among women.
Head or neck injury. If you have experienced whiplash, or had another head or neck injury, that could also be the culprit.
Any one of 300 medical conditions. Over 300 medical conditions, such as depression, anxiety and sleep apnoea can have a headache as one of its symptoms. Sinus problems are very common as the culprit in this regard. However, never try to diagnose the cause of your headache by yourself: if it is recurrent, you need to get to a doctor.
