Studies show that 50% of adults suffer at least one headache each year. This makes headaches one of the most common medical issues. The tricky part is that they happen for so many different reasons.
A mild headache may come and go, but severe headaches can leave you in bed with the blinds shut.
But what causes frequent headaches? There are some key major causes that we’re happy to explain. Keep reading so you can figure out how to handle your headache issues.
Table of Contents
Stress Is a Major Headache Cause
Without a doubt, stress is a huge reason cause of headaches. Right now, 73% of people deal with physiological symptoms of stress.
Money issues are a big cause. People that earn less than $35,000 make up a large segment of headache sufferers. Tension and throbbing in the head are will show up when your anxiety is running full-tilt due to life issues.
Taking some pain medication can help, but it’s best that you start unpacking the causes of stress in your life so you can make changes.
Get in touch with a therapist and start an exercise program that lets you work out your stress and pump positive endorphins.
You’re Taking Certain Medications
Take a look at the medications you’re taking if you’re getting frequent headaches. Certain medications cause headaches as a side effect for many people.
Examples of medications that cause headaches include Aspirin, acetaminophen, birth control pills, and certain anti-depressants. They might suggest changing the dosage or prescribing an alternative.
Medications can also cause headaches when you’ve been taking them a long time. Medication-overuse headache (MOH) is one of the most common types, and it affects people in different ways.
Watch Your Caffeine Intake
Caffeine is one of the leading causes of frequent headaches. The upswing of a big cup of coffee is glorious. You get an abundance of energy and mental clarity that can help you knock out work at an impressive clip.
However, the resulting crash can get ugly. For many people, it involves a throbbing headache. Drinking caffeinated beverages regularly causes the blood vessels around the brain to constrict. Caffeine is also a diuretic that causes headache-inducing dehydration.
Check for Muscle Tension
Several people get daily headaches because they carry too much tension in their bodies. Carrying tension in the neck, jaw, and shoulder areas will lead to chronic headaches.
In addition to stress, you might carry tension in your muscles due to bad posture and repetitive motion. Consider getting regular massages or using muscle creams and ointments on the areas of tension that are bothering you.
Many People Suffer From Migraines
Aside from frequency, it’s important also to assess the different types of headaches. A billion people around the world suffer from migraine headaches.
Scientists don’t yet know the exact cause of migraines but say that they are neurological issues with many triggers. Examples of migraine triggers include a lack of sleep, stress, weather changes, and exposure to too much light.
Allergens Can Cause Headaches
Roughly 50% of people in the United States suffer from some form of allergies annually.
It’s important to take a look at allergies when considering potential headache causes. When you suffer from chronic hay fever, sinus pressure can build up to the point of causing headaches.
Food allergies can also lead to headaches. Some common forms of food allergies include gluten, peanuts, and seafood.
You Could Be Depressed
The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that 5% of adults around the world are depressed.
When you’re depressed, the symptoms can manifest in any number of ways – headaches included. Speak to a therapist about your issues so that they can help you work through them.
They may offer weekly psychiatric care or refer you to a specialist. The doctor may also put you on a regimen of anti-depressants that can help the issue.
Audit Your Food and Beverage Consumption
There are also several foods and drinks that you might consume that can cause headaches.
For one, consider the amount of sugar that you take in regularly. If you have a sweet tooth, you may be inadvertently contributing to your headache problem.
The reason for this is that sugar causes your blood sugar to spike to the point that you deal with crashes.
Alcohol is another big headache contributor. It drastically dehydrates you and creates hangover symptoms that make you feel horrible overall.
You might also be malnourished. Even people that eat a surplus of calories can still be malnourished if they’re regularly hitting the fast-food drive-through or other sources of unhealthy foods.
Many of today’s foods also contain high-fructose corn syrup and other chemicals that can contribute to your headaches.
Regardless of what you’re going through, resolve to fix it by doing your research and seeking answers.
Practices like the National Headache Institute offer comprehensive solutions to your headaches. Rather than just popping a pain pill, it is important that you take a look at your entire life so that you can explore the potential root causes.
What Causes Frequent Headaches? — Problem Solved
What causes frequent headaches? The answers above should shed some light so that you can begin getting the help that you need. Your body and mind will thank you when you take the next steps to get your headaches under control.
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