Unfortunately, almost everyone experiences a headache sometimes. Headaches can range from mild to debilitating migraines and there are many different headache causes. Knowing what some of those headache causes are could prevent them from occurring or at least help you treat them when they do occur.
5 Common Headache Causes
There are many types of headaches. Many headaches have “triggers,” but their underlying causes are seldom known. The following are some of the more common triggers that can cause mild to severe headaches:
1. Alcohol
Alcohol can cause headaches for a number of reasons, including:
It’s a direct vasodilator, which can cause headaches in some people.
It contains ethanol, which is a diuretic that causes dehydration.
Many people have severe headaches if they’ve had too much to drink the night before.
2. Dehydration
Dehydration occurs when your body doesn’t have enough water. Your brain tissue needs water. If it doesn’t have enough water, your brain can actually shrink. When your brain shrinks even a little bit, it will pull away from your skull, causing a headache.
3. Light
Bright lights and glare are known to be triggers for migraines. The link is thought to be a result of the connection between the cells that detect light in your eyes and the nerve running from your eyes to your brain.
4. Stress
When a person experiences anxiety, certain chemicals are released in the brain to combat the tension. These chemicals sometimes cause blood vessel changes that can result in headaches, including migraines.
5. Underlying Medical Conditions
Blood clots
Brain tumors
Concussions
Strokes
…and the flu can cause headaches that range in severity.
Although you may not always be able to prevent a headache from developing (especially if you suffer from an underlying condition), you can take steps to avoid certain triggers, such as drinking lots of water and avoiding alcohol overconsumption.
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