Recognize the Various Causes of Headaches

The causes of headaches are very diverse, ranging from things that are not dangerous, such as stress, lack of sleep, or bad posture. Headaches can also be caused by more serious factors, such as brain tumors or brain bleeding. Headaches are a very common complaint, regardless of age. The causes also vary. Different causes, can also be different sensations of pain that is felt. There are those who feel a throbbing headache, aches and stiffness in the back of the head, or feel the head as bound or pricked.

Diseases That Cause Headaches

Diseases or problems with organs in the head can cause headaches, including:

• Disease in the brain

There are various problems in the brain that can cause headaches. Examples are problems in the blood vessels of the brain, such as blocked or broken blood vessels (strokes), inflammation (arteritis), or abnormally dilated blood vessels (brain aneurysms). In addition to problems with blood vessels, brain tumors, brain injuries, and infections of the brain can also cause headaches.

• Diseases of the ear, nose, sinuses and throat

These four body parts are located on the head and are interconnected. Sinus is a cavity filled with air inside the facial bones. Both the sinuses, ears and throat are directly related to the nasal cavity through a channel. When one or more of these structures have a bacterial or viral infection, inflammation occurs and symptoms occur in the form of pain in the bones of the face, ears, and head.

• Diseases of the teeth

Poor ways of chewing due to poor tooth structure, and the habit of clenching your teeth unconsciously when you are tense, stressed, or sleeping, can cause problems in the joints that connect the jawbone to the skull bones. Problems in this area can cause pain that radiates to the head.

• Eye disease

Rising pressure in the eyeball accompanied by visual disturbances in glaucoma can also cause annoying headaches.

In addition to dealing with organs in the head, headaches can also be caused by high blood pressure, airway obstruction during sleep (sleep apnea), infectious diseases, premenstrual syndrome (PMS), and mental disorders such as panic attacks or anxiety disorders. Birth control pills, drugs that contain hormones, and medications for heart disease must also be watched out for. These drugs can cause side effects headaches. Discuss with your doctor about how to deal with complaints of headaches due to these drugs.

Habits and Activities That Cause Headaches

Headaches can also be caused by habits and activities that you do everyday, and you may not realize it. Here are a few examples:

• Poor posture and neck, for example because of being bent down for a long time.
• Lack of sleep.
• Conditions that can be stressful or emotional, can be due to household or work problems.
• Lack of body fluids (dehydration) due to lack of drinking.
• Excessive consumption of alcohol or caffeine.
• Consumption of foods containing MSG (monosodium glutamate) contained in packaged and flavoring foods.
• Consumption of drinks or foods that are too cold. This condition is known as brain freeze.

Seeing the many causes of headaches, ranging from harmless to fatal, then you should see a doctor. As a first step, take a break in a quiet place, or do things that make you relax. Also, be sure to drink enough water, get enough and regular sleep, and avoid food or drinks that can trigger headaches. If the headaches you experience are unbearable, they occur after an accident, accompanied by a high fever (more than 39 degrees Celsius) that does not go down with a fever reliever, vomiting, impaired vision, impaired speech, or weakness in the arm or leg , then immediately see a doctor.