What causes headaches Jul 28, 2022 · The cause of headaches, or why headaches develop, is complex, often involving an intricate web of pain receptors, abnormal brain processes, genetics, and a neurological phenomenon called sensitization. People often worry that headaches are caused by serious disease or by high blood pressure. “But if you experience other symptoms besides a headache, or your headache is extremely painful and persistent, it’s important to talk to your doctor to determine if a more serious issue is the cause. The type of pain, how bad it is, where it hurts, and how often you get Jul 7, 2023 · Overuse headaches may also occur if you take aspirin or ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB, others) for more than 14 days a month or triptans, sumatriptan (Imitrex, Tosymra) or rizatriptan (Maxalt) for more than nine days a month. To diagnose the possible cause of a person’s headache, a doctor will review the person’s medical and headache history and do physical and neurological exams. Feb 25, 2025 · Takeaways. Secondary headaches are caused by another condition, such as an infection or head injury. They're not all alike. Occipital migraines specifically cause pain at the back of the head. Both of these are very uncommon causes of headache; high blood pressure usually causes no symptoms at all. Headaches also cause various types of pain. For example, an eye condition called glaucoma can trigger an acute and severe headache. “Secondary headaches are not common—most headaches are not serious,” says Dr. These can include: Blood, urine, and fluid tests What can cause headaches. Jun 23, 2024 · Headaches refer to pain in your head or face. They may be associated with sensitivity to light or sound. Medication-overuse headaches occur when medications stop relieving pain and begin to cause headaches. Oct 9, 2023 · Types and causes of common headaches. Tension headaches strike when the muscles in the head and neck tighten. They worsen with physical activity, tend to be more debilitating than tension Nov 22, 2024 · Diagnosing headache. Causes of severe headaches. These migraines are triggered by abnormal brain activity. Classifying the pain can help a doctor reach a diagnosis. Singh on eMedicineHealth, tension headaches cause aching pain or a feeling of pressure in the back of the head. That can make it difficult to know if your headache pain is a sign of a serious condition. Extremely high blood pressure can also cause a headache. There are many different types of headaches, and although the causes of most are unknown, headache triggers can often be identified. They may then order lab screening and diagnostic tests to find out if there’s a specific cause of the headaches. A primary headache is caused by overactivity of or problems with pain-sensitive structures in your head. May 2, 2005 · What causes headaches? Dawn A. Mar 22, 2022 · Headaches are common and can be mild, but sometimes they can cause severe pain and affect daily life. Loss of some of the fluid that surrounds the brain and spinal cord can decrease pressure in the skull and lead to Dec 29, 2024 · What causes headaches? Sometimes headaches have underlying causes and treatment of the headache involves treating the cause. . Eye strain headache more commonly observed in people who work in front of computer screens all day and fatigue causes pain in the eyes and headache in forehead. They can be triggered by infections, allergies, nasal Key facts. During a headache, multiple mechanisms activate specific nerves that affect muscles and blood vessels. Almost all types of headaches activate the same pain receptors. The most serious causes of headache pain Mar 8, 2023 · A tension headache is the most common type of headache. We also examine available treatment options. A migraine is a one-sided headache that causes intense pain and throbbing due to blood vessels dilating in the brain. 4- Eye strain headache. Decreased pressure. Jul 3, 2024 · One in 20 adults has a headache every day or nearly every day. There are many different types of headaches, such as tension, migraine and cluster headache caused by sinus problems, alcohol or dehydration. Here's a look at the most common triggers for each of these kinds of headaches. A tension-type headache is the most common type of headache, yet its causes aren't well understood. The most common types of headaches are tension and migraine headaches. However, most headaches have minor causes. They can feel like pressure, throbbing, a constant ache, or even sharp pain. According to Dr. Urgency: Self-treatment. medical conditions can cause headaches that may be severe. Manish K. For fever: anti-pyretics are given. Headaches are common and usually not concerning, but occasionally they can be caused by a serious illness. Are headaches hereditary? Aug 21, 2018 · Primary headaches are caused by changes to blood vessels, nerves, and chemicals in the brain. They do know that the brain tissue and the skull are never responsible since they don't have nerves that register pain. A primary headache isn't a symptom of an underlying disease. Get emergency medical care if you think you Feb 27, 2024 · The headache causes fainting or seizures. Jan 5, 2022 · A headache can affect any part of the head, and pain may be present in one or several locations. Aug 29, 2022 · What is the main cause of a headache? Headache pain results from signals interacting among your brain, blood vessels and surrounding nerves. Learn about headache types, remedies, and more. Jun 3, 2020 · Headaches are generally classified by cause: A primary headache is caused by overactivity of or problems with pain-sensitive structures in your head. In rare cases, headaches can signify a more serious underlying condition requiring prompt medical attention. ” Learn More About Headaches and Migraines For headache: over-the-counter painkillers can give relief. Aug 18, 2021 · It's not easy. Sinus headaches happen when your sinuses get blocked or inflamed, causing pain in areas such as your forehead, cheekbones, or nose. Mar 21, 2025 · While migraines are often one-sided, some types can spread to the whole head, neck, or face. Apr 20, 2024 · Tension-type headaches cause pressure on both sides of the head that can feel like you have a band over your head. You get the headache after you exercise, have sex, or squeeze your body. Apr 5, 2024 · Learn about some different primary and secondary headaches, including their causes and triggers. Li. Common causes of headaches include: having a cold or flu; stress; drinking too much alcohol; bad posture; eyesight problems; not eating regular meals; not drinking enough fluids (dehydration) taking too many painkillers; having your period or during menopause (hormone headache) Keeping a headache diary might help you Most headaches aren't the result of a serious illness, but some may result from a life-threatening condition requiring emergency care. Marcus, an associate professor at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine¿s department of anesthesiology, explains. For allergy: anti-histamines prove to be helpful. Recent research suggests that dysfunction of the central nervous system causes a feeling of tight muscles at the back of the head. Migraines come on when supersensitive nerve endings in the brain create pain. Apr 26, 2024 · Many . Symptoms that never occur with sinus headache: fever, being severely ill, sore throat, muscle aches, cough, drooping eyelid. Bending forward usually makes the pain worse. Managing a tension-type headache is often a balance between practicing healthy habits, finding effective nonmedicine treatments and using medicines appropriately. Causes: Like tension headaches and migraines, scientists don’t know for sure what causes cluster headaches, but it’s believed to involve the release of neurotransmitters and neuropeptides in three key Apr 16, 2018 · Doctors aren’t exactly sure what causes tension headaches. Headaches are generally classified by cause: Primary headaches. Nov 10, 2024 · Symptoms that always occur with sinus headache: headache. Migraine headaches cause a throbbing sensation on either both sides or one side of the head. New migraine. These nerves send pain signals to your brain, causing a headache. Treatments are available. The pain can feel like burning, aching, or electric shocks that move from the base of the skull to the scalp. Aug 4, 2023 · Regardless of whether you are prone to migraines, tension headaches, or cluster headaches (see "Is this your headache?"), you may be able to reduce their frequency by identifying what brings them on. See which of these common types of secondary headaches Feb 20, 2025 · Headaches that last, a long time can be worrying. Jul 25, 2023 · It causes a bad headache, fever, and a stiff neck. Keep reading to learn about common causes of severe headaches and when to seek immediate medical attention. Learn common causes, symptoms, at-home treatment options, and when to see a doctor. Other symptoms can include drowsiness or confusion. We explain why a headache may last a while and what to do. Mar 26, 2024 · What causes headaches? Doctors don't fully understand what causes most headaches.