Headaches: An Overview of Causes, Symptoms and Management

According to Johns Hopkins, headaches are a very common condition suffered by approximately 1/3 of the US population.

A Headache: Finding the Cause

There are many different kinds of headaches, manifested by a great range of symptoms. There are mild to moderate, occasional headaches.  There are moderate to severe, frequent headaches (migraines and cluster headaches) that can cause debility in some people. Most of the headaches mentioned here can worsen in severity to the point of becoming migraines.

Below is a list of possibilities that can give rise to headaches. Possible causes to consider include diet, exercise, sleep problems, obesity, dehydration, altitude sickness, underlying illness, stress/tension (including muscular), posture, head injury, weather changes, hormones, lighting, Temporomandibular Joint (TMJ) problems, cluster headaches, and migraines. Many are presumed to be caused by vasodilation (blood vessels get bigger) in the brain related to these factors.

If you suffer from headaches, the following list may help you identify and eliminate triggers by changing your lifestyle and avoiding them. If you cannot avoid triggers, you may be able to minimize them through various treatments and alternative approaches. Of course, this list does not include every cause, so if you suffer from headaches and cannot pinpoint the trigger, see a healthcare provider for help.  This is especially important if you develop vision problems or severe headaches (see warnings below in red).

Trying to Figure Out the Cause of Your Headaches? Explore More Here: Headaches: An Overview of Causes, Symptoms and Management

Consider these. The following links address various causes and approaches:

Medications

Smells

Lights

Hormones

The Foods You Eat /Intolerances (or foods you don't eat: Fasting)

Stress and Tension

Illness

Dehydration

Weather changes

Sleep Problems

High Blood Pressure

Exercise

Altitude sickness

Head Injury

Cluster Headaches

Are they migraines?

General Approaches to Headaches

These approaches to headaches are typically the first-line measures people take to try to ward them off. They apply to many types of mild to moderate headaches.

General Recommendations 

• If you do not know the cause of your headaches, try to identify it by using a headache diary to find a connection to your headache - what you were doing when it came on, what you ate, and so on.

• Alter your surroundings or attempt to avoid the cause.

• Rest in a dark, quiet, and comfortable place when you feel a headache coming on.

• Try Relaxation and meditation techniques

  Deep breathing exercises - This helps release endorphins in your brain, which are"feel good" hormones. This technique is practiced by taking a deep breath through your mouth using your diaphragm muscle located just beneath your lower ribs (instead of using neck, shoulder and upper chest muscles), pausing, and then releasing the breath through the mouth. Repeat this several times.

  -Guided Imagery - Think of a relaxing situation or a place you have been and focus on only that - focusing on texture, smells and visuals.

  -Use Mindfulness - This is when a person focuses on the present moment, feeling and experiencing the moment with awareness and acceptance, not judgment. This reportedly helps the fronto-limbic area of the brain, which is considered, in great part, responsible for emotional regulation and processing, as evidenced by MRIs.

  -Try Progressive Muscle Relaxation Exercises: This is done by tightening muscle groups for eight seconds then relaxing them for several seconds: Begin with facial muscles, with the face, moving to the scalp - tighten muscles eight seconds, then relax; then the neck, doing with each muscle group of the chest, back, pelvis, extremities and so on. This releases some tension and stress. If you do not have time to move through all of your muscle groups, do this with those muscles you believe have the most tension.

  -Analytical Meditation - This meditation involves concentrating on an object or a concept and focusing on only that.

  -Body Scanning-Focus on a part of your body and feel relaxation, warmth, the release of tension

• Pressure Points: One approach sometimes used to relieve these headaches is that of using a pressure point. Pressure point LI-4 is also called Hegu (her-goo). It is found on the back of your hand. It is between the base of your thumb and index (pointer) finger. Doing acupressure on this point can help with pain and headaches. Other pressure points can be found here.

• Acupuncture

• Cold compresses (to head or neck) - 15-20 minutes at a time.

• Hydrate well

• Biofeedback

Over-the-Counter Medications

NSAIDS: Ibuprofen (common: Advil, Motrin), naproxen sodium (common: Aleve, Naprosyn), and the combination of caffeine, acetaminophen, and Aspirin (common: Excedrin Migraine, Goody’s Powder). These are probably the best choices for headaches. Try to take NSAIDS with a little bit of food (as simple as a cracker) to avoid stomach irritation. If your headache is minor, take the lowest dose. If it is moderate, take the higher recommended dose.

Acetaminophen (common: Tylenol). 

Take as directed over-the-counter if there are no contraindications.

Try to treat early on in the headache: It is easier to stop pain if you attack it early rather than waiting until it is full-blown.

Considered Natural Remedies:

• Magnesium

• Caffeine

• Peppermint Oils

• Lavender

• Ginger

• Chamomile

• Melatonin

Prescription medications

What a healthcare provider prescribes really depends on the cause (see causes of a headache).

Hopefully, the above information about headaches: an overview of causes, symptoms, and management, has helped you get a better understanding of your headaches. If not, it may be time to seek out a consultation with a healthcare provider or neurologist.

When to See a Healthcare Provider

WARNING SIGNS

• A “thunderclap” headache – sudden severe onset - a "10 out of 10" - go to ER

• ​Do not dismiss frequent or severe headaches, especially if accompanied by

• Vomiting (especially projectile- a forceful outward-directed emesis )

• Double vision

• Change in your level of consciousness or change in behavior

• Recent head injury

• Is new and lasting for a few days (especially in the absence of a viral or bacterial infection)

• Is excruciating

• Has become  chronic/ongoing and does not respond to medicines

• If headaches especially occur after exercise_

• New onset of headaches after 50 (according to the American Headache Society)

• If you have more than one to two headaches a week or more than three to four per month 

• If you have less frequent headaches, but they are more severe and debilitating

• Your headaches start to feel different than your "usual" headaches