Headaches

What causes a headache?

The pain of a headache is caused by signals from nerves in your blood vessels and the muscles in your head to your brain. What isn’t clear is why the nerves generate these pain signals, but there are trigger factors that bring on many types of headaches:

Being ill

Illnesses such as respiratory infections and fevers often cause headaches, which may result from pressure or inflammation of the soft tissues.

Injury

You’re likely to get a headache if you receive a blow to the head, and if you also lose consciousness or have any other symptoms of a concussion, you should seek immediate medical advice.

Stress

Stress can cause headaches due to raised levels of adrenaline and cortisol, but stress can cause headaches in other ways as well, such as if you’re not eating properly, consuming too much alcohol, and not getting enough sleep.

Muscular injuries

Poor posture and overusing the neck muscles can cause headaches.

Environmental causes

Chemicals, allergens, pollution, noise, lighting, and changes in the weather can all trigger headaches.

Dehydration

Even mild cases of dehydration can cause headaches, and drinking more water is an effective cure for many mild types of headache.

Genetics

You may be more likely to experience headaches if your family members suffer from them. This is particularly true for migraines.

Are there different types of headaches?

There are more than 150 types of headaches, including:

• Tension
• Migraine
• Cluster
• Chronic daily
• Hemicrania continua
• Sinus
• Post-traumatic
• Hormone
• Rebound
• Ice pick
• Spinal
• Thunderclap

If you experience the sudden onset of a severe headache, or your headaches recur frequently, you should make an appointment to see one of the doctors at Chicagoland Pain Management.

How are headaches treated?

Headaches often respond to over-the-counter medications, but if these don’t help, then the pain specialists at Chicagoland Pain Management can offer a range of treatments to relieve the pain of your headache, including:

• Blood pressure medication
• Antidepressants
• Anti-seizure medications
• Calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) inhibitors
• Muscle relaxants
• Relaxation and biofeedback
• Decongestants
• Botox®

Ketamine infusions are also effective treatments for migraines and chronic daily headaches, and there are electrical and magnetic pulse technologies that can be beneficial for some patients. You can help prevent headaches by identifying your triggers and taking steps to avoid them as well.

If you have frequent headaches or suffer from migraines, you can find help and support at Chicagoland Pain Management. Call the clinic today to schedule a consultation, or book an appointment online.