What Causes Your Headaches

Scientists are still not sure what cause or multiple causes may be at the root of your headaches; they thought they understood it until recent findings. They now believe that both tension and...

Scientists are still not sure what cause or multiple causes may be at the root of your headaches; they thought they understood it until recent findings. They now believe that both tension and migraine headaches have the same origin in the brain.

Did you know that you have an “anti-pain system” in your brain? It is located behind the eyes and nose, in the brain stem. What this center does is to respond to an incoming nerve signal of pain with a powerful pain-relieving effect. A nerve called the “trigeminal nerve”, is located in the brain stem too, and is thought to be where the pain of a headache originates. This nerve is the biggest one we have in our head and carries sensory impulses to and from the face. It can release a burst of neurotransmitters (chemicals that pass impulses from nerves). This transmission of impulses from nerve to nerve stimulates serotonin, which acts as a filter, screening out all of the weaker or repetitive impulses and admitting signals that are important. The more serotonin released the greater the screening action becomes. A high serotonin level correlates with sleep. When pain signals from the trigeminal nerve increased serotonin levels are initiated. It is thought that those who suffer headaches have low levels of serotonin. Scientists found out that when these individuals were injected with serotonin, the headaches go away.

There can also be underlying conditions for the headaches you experience such as when you have a common cold, flu, fever, ear infection, too infection, sinus infection, pneumonia, measles, mumps, tonsillitis, sinus blockage, or from coughing too much and getting a traction headache.

There are also lifestyle causes for headaches such as when you have a hangover from drinking too much, headaches from stress, or from fatigue. Headaches caused by tension, or from being over-tired. You can also get headaches from excessive smoking.

Eye conditions like glaucoma and eyestrain can cause some people to have headaches.

Certain medical procedures can lead to headaches such as having a spinal tap procedure done and having a headache afterwards as a result of spinal fluid leakage. The same is true for having an epidural, it can cause damage to the spinal area and cause headaches.

Certain systemic or metabolic conditions can have headaches as symptoms such as hypertension, thyroid disease, anemia, kidney failure, uremia, lead poisoning, and also various toxins can cause headaches.

Brain or head conditions can also lead to headaches such as meningitis, encephalitis, head injuries, brain injuries, concussion, and temporal arteritis, having heatstroke or sunstroke. Blood clots in the brain, can lead not only to stroke but the headache that can be a warning sign of stroke. A brain aneurysm can be heralded by a severe headache. If you have a brain tumor you can experience headaches.

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