About Headaches | Your Questions, Our Answers
Jun
18
Posted on 18-06-2010
Filed Under (headaches) by admin on 18-06-2010
Donald Saunders asked:
When you think about the numerous different types of headaches and sufferers it should not be surprising that the causes of headaches are just as diverse. There are countless possible causes for headaches including underlying medical problems like the thankfully rare instances of cerebral aneurysms and brain tumors. However the most commonly experienced headaches have common causes.
In all too many instances simple eyestrain such as that seen when working too long at the computer can lead to a headache. At other times, infected sinuses resulting from a head cold or allergy can be the cause. Taking certain prescription medicines can also result in a headache.
Despite the fact that the exact cause is not known in every instance, constriction of the blood vessels is thought to be the culprit in a range of cases. Nerve fibers in the head which are sensitive to pain line the walls of the blood vessels and when they contract the nerves send signals to the brain. paradoxically, the brain itself cannot feel pain because it has no pain sensitive nerve cells within it and tension-type or cluster headaches are the result.
However your blood vessels can dilate as well as contract and when they do so one theory at least holds that cluster headaches and migraines can result. Present research proposes that there are also other more important factors involved when it comes to migraine headaches.
Tension or more accurately tension-type headaches can result from other sources like tension in the muscles of the neck, shoulder and even the jaw. Individuals who have suffered from TMJ disorder which is a disorder resulting from tension of the temporomandibular joint causing the jaw to tighten against the skull will be all too familiar with this.
In serious cases headaches are the result of some underlying disease and these are usually referred to as ’secondary headaches’. The catalogue of underlying diseases that can cause headaches is lengthy and will include everything from scarlet fever to irritable bowel syndrome.
Frequently environmental factors also play a significant role. Carbon monoxide poisoning such as that resulting from the gas produced by an automobile exhaust or many water heaters can lead to very severe headaches and in fact a headache is one of the main symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning. Other causes include allergies, lead poisoning and food poisoning.
Even when food is not itself toxic as would be the case where food is carrying a bacterial infection certain individuals will be sensitive to foods which will not affect people in general. Such everyday foods as cheese and chocolate will cause a headache in some individuals as will certain preservatives, caffeine and red wine.
However position, posture and several other controllable factors can also be some of the most common causes. As an increasing number of people are working with computers every day so we are seeing more neck tension, jaw stress and eyestrain.
Roughly 85% to 90% of headaches are common tension headaches which are generally the result of one or more of the factors detailed here. This means that in the overwhelming majority of cases the cure is easy and within your control.
Tankless Hot Water Heaters
When you think about the numerous different types of headaches and sufferers it should not be surprising that the causes of headaches are just as diverse. There are countless possible causes for headaches including underlying medical problems like the thankfully rare instances of cerebral aneurysms and brain tumors. However the most commonly experienced headaches have common causes.
In all too many instances simple eyestrain such as that seen when working too long at the computer can lead to a headache. At other times, infected sinuses resulting from a head cold or allergy can be the cause. Taking certain prescription medicines can also result in a headache.
Despite the fact that the exact cause is not known in every instance, constriction of the blood vessels is thought to be the culprit in a range of cases. Nerve fibers in the head which are sensitive to pain line the walls of the blood vessels and when they contract the nerves send signals to the brain. paradoxically, the brain itself cannot feel pain because it has no pain sensitive nerve cells within it and tension-type or cluster headaches are the result.
However your blood vessels can dilate as well as contract and when they do so one theory at least holds that cluster headaches and migraines can result. Present research proposes that there are also other more important factors involved when it comes to migraine headaches.
Tension or more accurately tension-type headaches can result from other sources like tension in the muscles of the neck, shoulder and even the jaw. Individuals who have suffered from TMJ disorder which is a disorder resulting from tension of the temporomandibular joint causing the jaw to tighten against the skull will be all too familiar with this.
In serious cases headaches are the result of some underlying disease and these are usually referred to as ’secondary headaches’. The catalogue of underlying diseases that can cause headaches is lengthy and will include everything from scarlet fever to irritable bowel syndrome.
Frequently environmental factors also play a significant role. Carbon monoxide poisoning such as that resulting from the gas produced by an automobile exhaust or many water heaters can lead to very severe headaches and in fact a headache is one of the main symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning. Other causes include allergies, lead poisoning and food poisoning.
Even when food is not itself toxic as would be the case where food is carrying a bacterial infection certain individuals will be sensitive to foods which will not affect people in general. Such everyday foods as cheese and chocolate will cause a headache in some individuals as will certain preservatives, caffeine and red wine.
However position, posture and several other controllable factors can also be some of the most common causes. As an increasing number of people are working with computers every day so we are seeing more neck tension, jaw stress and eyestrain.
Roughly 85% to 90% of headaches are common tension headaches which are generally the result of one or more of the factors detailed here. This means that in the overwhelming majority of cases the cure is easy and within your control.
Tankless Hot Water Heaters
