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What causes headaches?

Headaches can have a number of causes that may include: food or beverage triggers, excessive alcohol consumption, stress, muscle tension, hormonal changes and sleep disturbances. Some headaches are caused by an underlying medical condition such as infection, thyroid disorders, allergic reactions, severe hypertension and lesions.

FAQ Frequently asked questions

What are headaches?

A headache can be defined as pain that is felt in the head or upper neck. The kind of pain associated with a headache may be described as dull, sharp, constant, throbbing, mild or intense.

What are the symptoms of headaches?

Headache symptoms may vary depending on their type and cause: Pain location - headache pain may only occur on one side of the face or head, both sides, or it may alternate sides. Headache pain may be felt across the forehead, over the eye region, the …

Who gets headaches?

Although anybody can get headaches, most people who experience headaches are adults aged between 20 and 50 years.

How are headaches diagnosed?

Diagnosis of headaches involves taking your medical history and performing a physical examination. If needed, further diagnostic testing may include blood tests, urinalysis, and imaging scans.

How are headaches treated?

Headache treatments vary with their type, frequency and severity. Lifestyle modifications that may reduce frequency and severity of headaches include good stress management, adopting correct posture, getting enough sleep, avoiding excessive alcohol consumption, …

Are there different types of headaches?

Primary headaches, such as tension, migraine and cluster headaches, are not caused by another condition. Secondary headaches, however, may be serious if they are caused by a potentially dangerous underlying medical condition.

What factors can trigger headaches?

Common triggers of tension headaches include certain foods or beverages, hormonal changes, stress, sleep disturbances and muscle tension. Cluster headaches may be triggered by the part of the brain that regulates the body's biological clock. Secondary …

How common are headaches?

Headaches are one of the most common health-related conditions.

Are headaches serious?

Most headaches are not caused by an underlying condition and therefore not considered serious. The prognosis of secondary headaches may vary widely depending on the underlying condition causing the headaches.

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Migraine

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Malaria

Malaria is a parasitic blood infection acquired through the bite of certain infected mosquitos. Malaria destroys red blood cells in the body causing tiredness, fever and unwellness. Taking preventative measures when travelling to areas with malaria is recommended.…
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Costochondritis

Costochondritis is pain associated with inflammation of joints in the rib cage where cartilage meets the bone of the ribs or the breastbone. It is a common cause of chest pain and is referred to as Tietze syndrome when there is swelling around the affected joints.…
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Shoulder pain

Shoulder pain is a common symptom. As the body’s most mobile joint, the shoulder comes under a great deal of stress throughout a lifetime. An overuse of shoulder muscles and tendons is a common cause of shoulder pain. Modifying certain activities can help prevent further shoulder pain.…
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Fibromyalgia

Fibromyalgia is a common condition that causes widespread stiffness, aches and pain in muscles throughout the body. It can also cause extreme tiredness, which can interfere with carrying out normal activities. In some people the symptoms may come and go, while others experience pain every day.…

About this article

Author: Dr Bow Tauro PhD, BSc (Hons)
First answered: 24 Nov 2014
Last reviewed: 19 May 2018
Rating: 4.1 out of 5
Votes: 38 (Click smiley face below to rate)
Category: Migraine

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