What Causes Headache?

"What causes headache?" is the question I get from many patients. Often they come to our practice assuming a headache is just a headache is just a headache!

Well that's another "myth about headaches"! Usually there are a few different types involved and they have to be sorted out.. Even if you have been told in the past that "everyone gets headaches like that", this is not true.

Therefore there may be many causes of headache. One of them well known to women is menstrual migraine. What is the definition of a true menstrual migraine? One that occurs 2 days before, during, or up to 3 days after your cycle.

Additionally, some women might have migraines with menopause.

While migraine is a neurological attack within the brain, many people have head pain originating from musculoskelatal spasms which cause cervicogenic headaches. Additionally, cervicogenic headaches can actually become a migraine trigger through a feedback mechanism to the brain. But if this is you, you know this alreay right? The least little neck pain starts a spasm and you are off and running with a migraine.

Having said all this, the main source of what causes headaches is still stress. As I tell many of my patients, most headache profiles can be significantly improved by lifestyle changes.

Read more about different types of headaches.