Causes of headaches require careful medical investigations, and they should not be overlooked. No matter what treatment you may follow, you should receive professional diagnosis in order to make sure that you eliminate the major triggers for the health problem. Here are the main problems responsible for headaches.
Tension and muscle contractions
Uncomfortable body postures, incorrect performance of physical exercises and even eyestrain cause headaches. The muscles in the upper back, neck and shoulders often contract when you work on the computer for too long. This pretty much corresponds to the typical description of a tension headache.
Unknown or variable causes of headaches
Some headaches don’t have a specific cause or clear trigger. This is the case of migraines, powerful headaches that usually affect only one side of the head. Among the possible migraine triggers we could mention beverages like red wine, stress, sleep deprivation, hormonal changes (especially in women), certain foods (aged cheeses and chocolate) etc. Yet, the installation of the migraine episode is more complex and it depends on factors that remain unkown.
Cluster headaches or ice peak headaches are not fully explained either. Doctors don’t have a conclusive opinion on the causes of headaches of such intensity. Genetic predisposition and sensitivity to certain factors in the environment explain the painful episodes to a certain extent, but not completely.
Respiratory problems
After upper respiratory infections such as colds and the flu, the sinuses could be invaded by bacteria and thus become inflated. In addition to the headache, patients usually complain of stuffy or runny nose. Specialized medical diagnosis and treatment are a must for such situations in order to avoid further deterioration of the health condition.
Vision problems
People who suffer from some eye problems and have not been correctly diagnosed, could experience headaches in addition to the visual discomfort. It is common for the shortsighted to suffer from headaches when they don’t wear glasses or when changes appear in their eye condition. Only an ophthalmologist can determine whether the need for glasses was behind the headaches or not.
Lifestyle changes required
Patients who suffer from intense headaches that don’t have a clear explanation should make lifestyle changes in order to reduce the frequency and strength of the painful bouts. Alcohol and substance abuse, chaotic sleeping patterns, crash diets, heavy smoking and emotional problems are often major factors that disturb the body-mind balance.
In addition to headaches, the consequences of such lifestyle extremes prove a lot more serious and irreversible for the entire body system. Ask for professional help in order to break the vicious circle of addiction, if that is the case!
People who work in toxic or stressful environments often suffer from headaches despite the use of specialized protection gear. It is advisable to change the work place if you are regularly exposed to intense noise or toxic fumes, because on the long run your health condition might deteriorate drastically. Even with protective equipment, such an environment has a negative impact on the general wellness and could prove one of the major causes of headaches.