What Causes a Headache?

Not everyone suffers from headaches, but those that do often wonder why.  Twenty-eight million people in the United States suffer from various forms of headaches, according to doctors at St. John Chronic Headache and Migraine Institute.  Although a headache may seem like a simple ailment—pain in any region of the head, including sinuses, muscles, and blood vessels—the actual causes can be varied and often preventable.

 

Stress and Physical Causes

 Any type of stress can cause tightening of the muscle systems, which may lead to frequent headaches and migraines. Physicians at Virginia Hopkins have found that mind and body relationships are often disturbed by stressful situations, thereby disrupting sleep and causing headaches. For example, people under stress tend to grind their teeth during sleep, which places pressure on small mandibular joints just in front of the ear.  Sometimes it is just stress, but sometimes it can be due to dental problems. If one’s jaw or teeth are misaligned, one side of the jaw receives more pressure causing head pain.

 Drugs and Diet

           

Both prescription and over-the-counter medications are known to cause frequent headaches. This includes caffeine, alcohol, nicotine, and even medication given to patients for the treatment of headaches. The National Headache Foundation (NHF) suggests that it is often better to use a simple pain killer and wait out the headache, rather than inundating oneself with multi-symptom medicines.

Any type of substance abuse can cause not only frequent headaches, but also serious injury. Anti-depressants, sleeping pills, decongestants, and various beta-blockers can all cause painful headaches if overused.  Additionally, withdrawal from stimulants is a common culprit and is treated  by easing off the stimulant rather than stopping entirely.

Genetics

           

Genetic predisposition is often overlooked in cases of frequent headaches. Migraines tend to occur in early adulthood, accompanied by a sense of vertigo, and can often last for days. 

Headaches are more common in women than in men, suggesting a hormonal connection,  according to the American Headache Society. An increase in estrogen is known to cause vascular dilation and thus increase chances for recurring migraines. Frequent headaches in this category may be treated with progesterone cream to restore vascular tone and counteract the estrogen dominance. Many women and young adults suffering from these frequent headaches have found relief in the form of acupuncture, acupressure, meditation, and even simple relaxation techniques.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/bookshelf/br.fcgi?book=cm&part=A1614

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/headache/MY00407/DSECTION=causes

http://www.headaches.org/educational_modules/completeguide/differenttypes.html

http://www.achenet.org/education/patients/typesofheadaches.asp

http://www.virginiahopkinstestkits.com/headachecause.html