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How are Headaches Caused?

Headaches are pains that occur in any region of the head; they can occur on both sides the head or be isolated to a certain location.

Headaches can radiate across the head from a central point or have a pincering vise-like quality. They can be sharp, throbbing or dull, appear gradually or suddenly and last for multiple days or less than an hour. Primary headaches are stand alone illnesses which are caused directly by the overactivity of, or problems with, structures in the head that are pain-sensitive. This includes the blood vessels, muscles and nerves of the head and neck, as well as chemical activity taking place inside the brain.

Primary headaches can occur when pain-sensitive structures in the head do not work properly.Common primary headaches include migraines, cluster headaches and tension headaches.
Secondary headaches are headaches that are symptoms of another condition that stimulates the pain-sensitive nerves of the head. There are a vast number of different conditions that can cause secondary headaches, ranging in severity from an alcohol-induced hangover to a brain tumor.


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