What Are Some Of The Normal Causes Of A Headache?

When you consider the the various types of headaches and sufferers it should not be surprising that the causes of headaches are just as diverse. There are literally hundreds of possible causes for headaches including underlying medical conditions such as the fortunately rare cases of cerebral aneurysms and brain tumors. However the most common headaches also have common causes.

In many cases simple eyestrain such as that seen when working too long at the computer can produce a headache. At other times, ordinary a sinus infection caused by a head cold or allergy can be the culprit. Overuse of certain prescription medications can also produce a headache.

Although the precise cause is not known in every instance, narrowing of the blood vessels is also thought to be the culprit in many cases. Pain sensitive nerve fibers in the head line the walls of the blood vessels and when the blood vessels contract the nerves are activated and send signals to the brain. Ironically, the brain cannot feel pain since it has no pain sensitive nerve cells within it and tension-type or cluster headaches result.

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

Tension headaches can result from other sources such as tension in the muscles of the neck, shoulder and even the jaw. Individuals who have experienced TMJ disorder which is a condition caused by tension of the temporomandibular joint causing the jaw to tighten against the skull are all too familiar with this.

In more serious cases headaches are the result of an underlying disease and these are usually referred to as 'secondary headaches'. The catalogue of underlying diseases that can cause headaches is lengthy and includes everything from irritable bowel syndrome to scarlet fever.

all too often environmental factors also play an important role. Carbon monoxide poisoning such as that resulting from the gas produced by an automobile exhaust or many water heaters can cause very severe headaches and indeed headaches are one of the prime 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 where food is contaminated with a bacterial infection some people will be sensitive to compounds that will not affect people in general. Such common foods as chocolate and cheese will cause a headache in some people as will certain preservatives, caffeine and red wine.

However position, posture and several other controllable factors may well be amongst the most common causes. As a growing number of people use computers on a daily basis so we see more eyestrain, jaw stress and neck tension.

Almost 85% to 90% of headaches are common tension headaches which are generally the result of one or more of the factors detailed here. This means that in the overwhelming majority of cases the cure is simple and within your control.