What Causes A Headache?

Considering the numerous different types of headaches and headache sufferers it should not be surprising that the causes are equally diverse. There are literally hundreds of possible causes for headaches including medical conditions such as the fortunately rare instances of cerebral aneurysms and brain tumors. However the most common headaches have common causes.

In all too many instances simple eyestrain such as is experienced whan staring for too long at a computer screen can produce a headache. At other times, ordinary a sinus infection resulting from an allergy or head cold can be the cause. Overuse of certain prescription medications can also give you a headache.

Despite the fact that the exact cause is not always known, narrowing of the blood vessels is believed to be the culprit in many cases. Pain sensitive nerve fibers in the head line the walls of the blood vessels and when they contract the nerves are activated and send signals to the brain. Ironically, the brain cannot feel pain because it does not contain any pain sensitive nerve cells and tension-type or cluster headaches result.

However blood vessels can dilate as well as contract and when they do so one theory at least holds that cluster headaches and migraines can be the result. Contemporary research proposes that there are also other much more important factors involved when it comes to migraines.

Tension or more accurately tension-type headaches can arise from other sources such as tension in the muscles of the shoulder, neck and even the jaw. People who have suffered from TMJ disorder which is a disorder caused by tension of the temporomandibular joint causing the jaw to tighten against the skull are familiar with this.

In serious cases headaches may be produced by some underlying disease and these are frequently labeled as 'secondary headaches'. The catalogue of conditions this can cause headaches is lengthy and will include everything from scarlet fever to irritable bowel syndrome.

Often environmental factors also play a significant part. Carbon monoxide poisoning such as that resulting from the gas produced by an automobile exhaust or many water heaters can produce very severe headaches and indeed a headache is one of the principle symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning. Other causes include allergies, lead poisoning and food poisoning.

Even when food is not actually toxic as will be the case with food contaminated with a bacterial infection some individuals will be sensitive to compounds which will not affect the general population. Such everyday foods as chocolate and cheese can cause a headache in some individuals as will certain preservatives, caffeine and red wine.

However posture, position and various other controllable factors may well be some of the most common causes. As a growing number of people are working with computers every day so we are seeing more eyestrain, neck tension and jaw stress.

Approximately 85% to 90% of headaches are common tension headaches which are usually the result of one or more of the factors detailed here. In other words in the overwhelming majority of cases the cure is simple and within your control.

TheMigraineHeadacheCenter.com provides a wide range of information about headaches including tension headaches and migraine headaches