Causes of Headache

Headache is one of the most common health complaints. Most headaches are primary, meaning the headache itself is the condition. A smaller number are secondary, caused by another illness.

Primary headaches

• Tension-type headache: linked to muscle tightness, stress, poor posture, long screen time and poor sleep.
• Migraine: involves changes in brain nerve signalling and blood vessels. It runs in families and can be triggered by hormones, skipped meals, sleep change, strong smells, bright light and certain foods.
• Cluster headache: involves the hypothalamus and often occurs in cycles.

Common triggers

• Stress, anxiety and lack of sleep
• Dehydration and missed meals
• Eye strain or uncorrected vision
• Too much caffeine, or caffeine withdrawal
• Alcohol
• Long hours at a screen with poor posture
• Weather change, noise and strong light
• Hormonal change, such as before periods
• Overuse of painkillers, which causes medication-overuse headache

Secondary causes

Infections such as sinusitis, flu, meningitis and dengue, high blood pressure, head injury, dental problems, neck problems, tumours, bleeding in the brain and some medicines can cause headache. These are less common but more serious.

Ayurvedic view

Ayurveda describes headache as shirashoola and links it to aggravated vata, pitta or kapha. This is an interpretive framework, not a proven explanation.

Key point

Keep a diary of when headaches occur and what came before. It often reveals the trigger.

Before your appointment

Keep a headache diary for a few weeks, noting when headaches start, how long they last, their location and type of pain, and possible triggers such as sleep, meals, stress, periods and screen time. List all medicines, supplements and painkillers you take and how many days a month you use them. Mention head injuries, family history, and any red flag symptoms.