Frequent headaches can be caused by a variety of factors, including stress or anxiety, muscle strain, dehydration, eye strain, physical exertion, and allergies. They may result from tension headaches due to emotional or physical tension, migraines which are often more severe and can include nausea or changes in vision, rebound headaches caused by overuse of headache medication, or cluster headaches which occur in cycles. Lifestyle factors such as poor posture, lack of sleep, skipping meals, excessive caffeine or alcohol intake, hormonal changes, and certain foods can also trigger headaches. If headaches are frequent or severe, they may indicate underlying health issues and should be evaluated by a healthcare professional for proper diagnosis and treatment.
Common headache types and triggers:
- Tension headaches: caused by stress or muscle tension.
- Migraines: may include throbbing pain, nausea, sensitivity to light/sound.
- Rebound headaches: from overuse of pain medicine.
- Cluster headaches: severe, one-sided headaches occurring in clusters.
- Triggers: stress, dehydration, sleep disturbances, hormone changes, dietary factors, medication overuse.
If headaches disrupt daily life, consulting a doctor, who may recommend keeping a headache diary and possibly further tests, is advised for accurate diagnosis and treatment.
