Causes and Diagnoses

Causes and Diagnoses of Headaches

Headaches may be caused by:

• Anxiety: Stress may bring on headaches
• Glare: Does the brightness from your computer screen, sunlight or overhead lights make your head hurt?
• Noise: Sound, from loud and repetitive to continuous low-level noise, can cause headache pain
• Eating and sleeping patterns: Being hungry can cause headaches, as can lack of sleep
• Medication: Certain prescriptions can trigger headaches
• Physical activity: Sometimes over-exertion can give you a headache from the swelling of blood vessels in your head, neck and scalp
• Lack of physical activity: Staying sedentary can also give you a headache.
• Posture: Sitting up straight keeps blood flowing
• Hormones: If estrogen levels drop, women may be more likely to get headaches
• Food sensitivities: Food and drink release neurotransmitters that can lead to headaches. Common triggers include aspartame, caffeine, chocolate, alcohol and cheese

Diagnoses

To make a diagnosis, your physician may ask you the following questions:

• When do headaches occur?
• Where is the pain?
• What do the headaches feel like?
• How long do the headaches last?
• Have you experienced changes in behavior or personality?
• Do changes in position or sitting up cause the headache?
• Do you have trouble sleeping?
• Do you have a history of stress?
• Have you had a head injury?