Headaches - Causes!

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Headaches (Causes)

Almost all of us will have abided from headaches ranging from very mild and occasional headaches to frequent blazing attacks which can last for days at a time. But just what induces a headache? This is a very hard question to answer because there are virtually thousands of things which can bring about a headache. All the same, most of us tend to suffer by what we could call common headaches and here there are a list of basic causes.

One very common cause of a headache is simple eyestrain induced by spending a bit to much time gazing at a computer screen or TV, or possibly reading a book. Inflammation of the sinuses as the result of an allergic reaction or a head cold is another often seen reason for a headache, as is the overuse of certain prescription medicine and over-the-counter medicines.

In a lot of cases all the same there is no forthwith obvious cause but the mechanics behind a headache may help to point us in the correct direction. We don't know exactly what brings on the pain of a headache but in a lot of cases it is thought to be a constriction of the blood vessels in the head which triggers nerves running along these blood vessels to send signals to the brain which are then represented as pain. This for instance is considered to be the chief cause of both tension-type and cluster headaches. A similar result can also happen when these same blood vessels dilate and this can once more lead to cluster headaches and also to migraines, although there are also thought to be other agents at work when it comes to migraine headaches.

In some cases naturally headaches can be the secondary issue of an underlying condition or disease which can range from rather minor ailments to serious conditions such as encephalitis or a brain tumor. The number of conditions which can bring on headaches is very long and includes everything from irritable bowel syndrome to scarlet fever.

Environmental elements also play a part and a lot of people endure headaches from the carbon dioxide passed off by car exhausts or as a result of even very mild food poising. Sensitiveness to pollen and other allergies are common today and, although it's thankfully now becoming uncommon, a few people still suffer as a result of lead poisoning.

Food also is a common perpetrator and many common foods such as cheese and chocolate can bring about headaches in a amazingly large portion of the population, as can some preservatives like monosodium glutamate, coffee and that old favorite red wine.

Fortunately most headaches can be cured very quickly and easily with a wide range of medications and this is particularly true of such things as tension headaches which are by far the most commonly seen form of headache. Nevertheless, in some instances just what causes headaches still remains something of a mystery and research into this subject is likely to be needed for several more years before we have an answer to all of our questions about headaches.