Recurring Headache Causes

When it comes to recurring headache causes, the most common is migraine. See if you have two of the following symptoms for migraine headaches:

Throbbing headache lasting 4-72 hours
Light bothers you
Loud sounds or strong smells like perfume, bother you.

Additionally you probably have one of the following:

Nausea and/or vomiting
Loss of appetite during the headache
Vertigo (or dizziness)

If so the diagnosis is migraine. The MOST common cause is something you and I can control. Hey who knew? It's STRESS. Yup, good old, plain old stress! We all have stress..everyone has it but the key is how do you manage it? Do you exercise regularly to relieve stress or is your idea of stress relief sitting on the couch watching TV?

Cluster Headache Cluster headaches, are a second recurring headache cause and occur mostly in men. They tend to last less than two hours. Spring and Fall seem to be the most popular times for this and every year the clinics will be crowded with cluster headache patients coming in.

Cervicogenic Headache Another cause of headache that many are unfamiliar with, is cervicogenic headache. Now wait a minute! What are these big medical terms! Simply put: it's a pain in the neck. Literally. Many times simple lifestyle changes and a short course of medication relieves the problem. This headache is closely related to tension headache.

Analgesic Rebound Headache Additionally, there is over use of over the counter medications like Tylenol Sinus or Excedrine Migraine. These medications used more than three times a week are a definite cause of recurring headache. One in particular that I refer to is the Claritin D Sinus Headache. When in pain you will reach for anything to take the headache away.

With over use, now the condition is analgesic rebound headache syndrome. This can be one of the most difficult to treat recurring headache causes.

Trigeminal Neuralgia Although somewhat rare, trigeminal neuralgia can reoccur years after the first bout of neuralgia. What is neuralgia? Just means pain in a nerve. Specifially the nerve which runs along the side of the face and the jaw.

Most of the time this is provoked by a virus or dental work but sometimes the cause is unknown.

Additional Causes of Recurring Headache You cannot forget about the food items in our environment now that cause headaches. Many foods contain chemicals to enhance flavor, MSG being the most famous, which provoke headaches. Caffeine overuse is another migraine trigger.

Headache and food triggers
Caffeine and headaches.
Overuse of opiods with addiction.

Jaw and tooth problems can also cause recurring headaches. These are best managed by a dentist. If you feel you are suffering from TMJ symdrome, a dentist who specialises in this problem is the best person to help you. These conditions can include:

Temporomandibular joint syndrome (TMJ)
Dental abcesses
Post extraction infections
Dental caries
Poor fitting dentures

Ear, nose and throat disorders can refer to the head and provoke migraines and headaches. A throrough evaluation for headaches should rule out:

Sinus problems
Trauma such as perforated eardrum
Chronic ear infections
Rare tumor of the inner ear: schwannoma

Obviously the key here is to find a good physician or practitioner who can help you sort out your headache profile.

Mary K. Betz, MS RPA-C is a practicing Physician Assistant in neurology who specializes in headache medicine at a large headache center. She has suffered from migraines for over 30 years and now teaches people how to take charge of headaches by learning more at http://www.headache-adviser.com/migraine-headache-symptoms.html