What causes headaches?
-
Dr. Mehmet Oz answered:Headaches can range on the pain scale from annoying to debilitating, but do share one important trait: They make you feel like mushroom fertilizer - and except to pigs, that's not a beautiful sight.
Much of the biology of headaches stems from the function of a nerve that sounds like the name of a Jedi knight. The trigeminal nerve is a large nerve that comes directly from the brain and divides into five branches to cover the face. A variety of triggers stimulate inflammation and irritation of this nerve and surrounding tissues. And that erupts into the pain we sense as a headache. Another major cause is a dilation of blood vessels. Too large blood vessels can be painful themselves or can cause pain by allowing various chemicals to ooze slowly out of the blood vessels and seep into the tissues around and in the brain and cause inflammation.
About 15 percent of us are born with small holes in our heart. If those holes don't close, blood shunts right past the lungs to the brain. (If they don't close naturally, they can be subsequently closed with a procedure using a groin catheter, in which an umbrella-shaped device is fed up through the body and covers the hole.) Maybe you didn't know it, but the lungs serve to detoxify and clear a lot of bad chemicals from the blood. Without going through a detoxification process in your lungs, those chemicals can go right to the brain to trigger headache pain by dilating brain arteries.
During a headache, levels of the feel-good chemical serotonin drop. This may cause the trigeminal nerve to release substances called neuropeptides, which cause blood vessels to become dilated and inflamed. In migraines, serotonin first elevates, then drops - making you even more sensitive to pain. Migraine medications mimic serotonin so cells can use it more effectively, and they also stop the release of those neuropeptides to prevent the dilation of blood vessels.
Find out more about this book: You: Being Beautiful - The Owner's Manual to Inner and Outer Beauty
Headaches can range on the pain scale from annoying to debilitating, but do share one important trait: They make you feel like mushroom fertilizer - and except to pigs, that's not a beautiful sight.Much of the biology of headaches stems from the... More -
Dr. Irene Semenov of NorthShore University HealthSystem answered:Headache is one of the most common neurological complaints. There are numerous causes of headaches, which can be subdivided into primary headache disorders, such as migraine or tension headache, and those due to other underlying conditions, such as brain abnormalities, strokes or infections. It is necessary to evaluate for potential underlying causes, if it is the worst headache of a life time, or if it is a new or unusual type of headache.Headache is one of the most common neurological complaints. There are numerous causes of headaches, which can be subdivided into primary headache disorders, such as migraine or tension headache, and those due to other underlying conditions,... More -
Dr. Maoshing Ni answered:When you have a headache, your body is trying to tell you something. According to Chinese medicine, pain is your body's signal that there is a blockage of energy and blood. Your body is asking you to notice, evaluate and change the behavior that caused the pain in the first place. For example, a headache may be pointing to improper diet. It is best to heal pain using natural methods, so you can avoid side effects and also become more aware of your body's unique needs.When you have a headache, your body is trying to tell you something. According to Chinese medicine, pain is your body's signal that there is a blockage of energy and blood. Your body is asking you to notice, evaluate and change the behavior that... More -
RealAge answered:The hurt in headache pain emanates from a network of nerves that covers the scalp and from particular nerves in the face, mouth, and throat. Muscles of the head as well as blood vessels along the surface membrane surrounding the brain and base of the brain also contain pain-sensitive nerve fibers.
Many nerves run from the brain directly to the face and head. These nerves have pain receptors that carry pain signals to the brain. Stress, muscular tension, and expanded (dilated) blood vessels provoke pain sensations.
Once a pain message is received, the brain registers pain originating from regions of the head, face, and neck.
Take the RealAge Test!The hurt in headache pain emanates from a network of nerves that covers the scalp and from particular nerves in the face, mouth, and throat. Muscles of the head as well as blood vessels along the surface membrane surrounding the brain and... More -
Dr. Egilius Spierings answered:Despite the fact that headaches are extremely common, doctors don't fully understand exactly why or even how they occur. Neither the skull nor the brain is sensitive to pain, but both are surrounded by pain-sensitive membranes. Most headache pain stems from abnormalities in these membranes or nearby muscles, blood vessels, or nerves—either alone or in combination. Hormones such as estrogen can cause headaches or make them worse. As a result, women, who undergo hormonal fluctuations as part of their monthly menstrual cycle, are twice as likely as men to experience moderate and severe headaches and more likely to experience certain types of headaches, such as migraine.
About 95% of headaches aren't caused by an underlying disease or structural abnormality. Instead, they spring from common conditions such as stress, fatigue, lack of sleep, hunger, changes in estrogen level, weather changes, or caffeine withdrawal.Despite the fact that headaches are extremely common, doctors don't fully understand exactly why or even how they occur. Neither the skull nor the brain is sensitive to pain, but both are surrounded by pain-sensitive membranes. Most headache... More -
Dr. Kathleen Mullin of The Mount Sinai Medical Center answered:The pain from a headache itself is caused by multiple factors including inflammatory markers in the blood stream, dilation of the blood vessels, as well as tightening, spasming of head, neck and upper back muscles. The direct result of these components is a pain in your head.
Having said that, there are certain triggers that are known to also cause headache, in a more indirect manner. For example, certain foods can cause a headache especially a migraine headache. These include hotdogs, cured meats like salami, Chinese or any other food made with MSG, and red wine.
Other known triggers that can cause a headache include changes in the weather, dehydration, lack of sleep, hormonal fluctuations that occur with menstruation, and stressful life events. Additionally, migraine headaches are known to have a genetic component- meaning you are more likely to have migraines if someone in your family has them. In other words, the genes you received from your parents alone may be the cause of your headaches.
Finally, headaches can also be caused by more worrisome things such as a mass, bleed, or infection, particularly meningitis. So, if you have a headache that is persistent, severe, or refractory to treatment you should let your doctor know immediately to rule out those secondary causes.
The pain from a headache itself is caused by multiple factors including inflammatory markers in the blood stream, dilation of the blood vessels, as well as tightening, spasming of head, neck and upper back muscles. The direct result of these... More
