What causes headaches?
Headaches are typically divided into two main categories:
- Primary headaches: occur without other symptoms or illnesses; include migraines, cluster headaches, and tension headaches
- Secondary headaches: are symptoms of another condition like a cold or high blood pressure
Common causes of headaches include:
- Dehydration
- Muscle tension
- Nerve compression
- Hormone fluctuations
- Temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJ)
While headaches are common, when they’re severe or frequent they can disrupt your life. You don’t need to accept headaches as normal when the doctor offers effective, customized care.
What are migraines?
Migraines are severe primary headaches that often cause symptoms that include nausea, distorted vision, and sensitivity to light, sound, and scent. The precise cause of migraines isn’t currently understood, although hormones and stress are believed to contribute.
Genetics may also play a role. Your risk of getting migraines is higher if a member of your family also has them.
What are cluster headaches?
A cluster headache occurs when you have several severe headaches over a period of consecutive days, weeks, or even months.
Many people who experience cluster headaches get them in cyclic flare-ups or outbreaks. Cluster headaches are believed to be linked to hormonal fluctuations and your internal “clock,” controlled by your hypothalamus gland.
How are headaches diagnosed?
Before they can determine the best treatment for your headaches, the doctor needs to understand their type and cause. He offers detailed consultations where you discuss your symptoms and personal and family medical history. The doctor may ask you to keep a journal or log of your symptoms and other lifestyle factors like your diet, water consumption, and physical activity.
The doctor also performs a physical exam and may request additional testing, including blood work and imaging tests like X-rays, MRIs, and CT scans, to rule out other conditions that could be causing your headaches.
How are headaches treated?
The doctors create a customized treatment strategy to relieve your pain and address any underlying conditions. He may suggest modifications to your diet to avoid certain trigger foods, or he may recommend that you reduce your caffeine or alcohol consumption.
He may prescribe medications to both prevent and treat migraines, and he may suggest Botox® injections if you have chronic tension headaches.
If severe or chronic headaches are disrupting your life, call or book an appointment online. The doctor can identify the cause of your pain and provide effective treatments to help you get your life back.
