Tension headaches / Migraine
- Women and middle-aged people are found to be more likely to have tension headache and migraine. Headaches usually occur shortly after onset of menstruation or pregnancy due to hormonal changes. It is also found that people with family history of migraine attacks are more prone to developing migraine. People with migraine have history of depression, anxiety, stroke or high blood pressure. Although these conditions do not necessarily increase the risk for migraine, but are associated with it. The risk factors for mixed headache syndrome are similar to tension headaches and migraine.
Several lifestyle factors may trigger a vascular reaction in your brain that leads to migraine headache. These include:
- Lack of sleep
- Skipping meals
- Drinking alcoholic beverages
- Excessive exercise
- Eating foods with monosodium glutamate (MSG) or nitrates
- Stress, emotional conflicts
- Smoking
- Being overweight or obese
- Taking medications which cause hormonal changes such as birth control pills, hormone replacement therapy, vasodilators
Clustered headaches
- In contrast to tension headaches and migraine, men are more likely to have cluster headaches.Smoking and alcohol use also increases the risk of cluster headache. Genetic factor also plays a role in developing clustered headaches. People who have head injuries or other forms of sleep disorders also have higher chance in getting clustered headaches.
Sinus headaches
- Asthma
- Head injuries/ ear infection
- Allergies to dust, mold or pollen
- Weak immune system/ problems with immunity
- Persistent cold or upper respiratory infection
- Cystic fibrosis
- Facial injuries that block sinus passages
- Smoking (first or second-handed)
- Enlarged tonsils or adenoids
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