What causes headaches? – Stimulife Health Blog

Headaches can be caused by a wide range of factors. Here’s a breakdown of the most common causes:

🧠 Primary Headaches (not caused by another condition)

These are the most common types:

1. Tension Headaches
   • Cause: Muscle tension, stress, anxiety, poor posture
   • Symptoms: Dull, aching pain, often around the forehead or back of the neck
2. Migraines
   • Cause: Genetic and environmental triggers (like hormones, foods, stress, lack of sleep)
   • Symptoms: Throbbing pain (often one-sided), nausea, sensitivity to light/sound, may include aura
3. Cluster Headaches
   • Cause: Unclear, possibly related to the hypothalamus
   • Symptoms: Severe pain around one eye, nasal congestion, tearing, happen in cycles

🩺 Secondary Headaches (caused by an underlying condition)

These result from other health problems:

• Dehydration
• Infections (sinus infection, flu, cold, meningitis)
• High blood pressure (especially very high, called hypertensive crisis)
• Medication overuse (common with frequent painkiller use)
• Caffeine withdrawal
• Head injury or trauma
• Eye strain or uncorrected vision problems
• Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders
• Hormonal changes (menstruation, pregnancy, menopause)

⚠️ When to See a Doctor

Seek immediate help if a headache is:

• Sudden and severe (“thunderclap headache”)
• Accompanied by confusion, fainting, or weakness
• After a head injury
• With fever, stiff neck, or rash
• Persistent and worsening over time