A headache is a pain in the head and upper neck. It is one of the more common areas of the body to experience pain and has many different causes or triggers. Some headaches are benign but painful, while others are troublesome migraines and still others can be caused by underlying medical issues, such as brain tumors or stroke. While there are different types of headaches and triggers, medical science has also made enormous strides treating them.
Low Blood Sugar
Low blood sugar is also called hypoglycemia. When the brain doesn’t receive enough sugar to maintain function, it will cause a headache. According to Family Doctor, if an individual experiences headaches combined with weakness or shakiness, he should seek the advice of his physician for better blood sugar regulation.
Food
For some people, headaches are triggered by certain foods or chemicals within the foods. For instance, according to physicians at Mayo Clinic, beer and red wine are common offenders. Aged cheese, chocolate, aspartame, caffeine and MSG can also trigger a headache.
Skipping meals or fasting can trigger migraine headaches, which are different from the headaches a diabetic experiences with low blood sugar.
Sleep
Mayo Clinic physicians counsel their patients to maintain consistent sleep-wake patterns. Either missing sleep or getting too many hours of sleep can trigger a migraine attack. Individuals who travel frequently may also find that jet lag, or traveling between time zones, can increase their risk of developing headaches.
Physical Activity
Physical exertion can bring on severe headaches. Activities such as weight lifting and sexual intercourse may precipitate an exertional headache. In most cases these are benign and respond to medication or therapy prior to the exertion. They are also commonly associated with patients who have inherited a susceptibility to migraines.
Hormones
Women have a higher rate of experiencing headaches because monthly they suffer from another of the triggers, hormonal fluctuations. According to physicians at Mayo Clinic, changes in estrogen levels can trigger migraines. Other women have an increased risk of generalized headaches or migraines with pregnancy, oral contraceptives or hormone replacement therapy.
Visual Stimulation
According to Kids Health, headaches can also be caused by using the computer or watching television for prolonged periods of time. Using the 20-20-20 rule can help reduce the potential of developing a headache. Every 20 minutes, look at a point 20 feet away for 20 seconds in order to change the position of the eye muscles and reduce tension.
Vision abnormalities that require glasses can also cause headaches when they aren’t addressed. As the eye accommodates to the environment and strives to bring objects into focus, it stresses the muscles and increases the risk of headaches.
Stress
Headaches can be triggered by stressful environmental or personal situations. Stress at home or work can trigger a tension headache in the back of the head, near the neck, or at the forehead.
