Headaches: Understanding the Underlying Causes & Symptoms

A headache is often a signal from the body telling you something is wrong; it is not the result of an "aspirin deficiency" as many people seem to believe.

Dehydration

• A common headache cause is dehydration from lack of water-intake. By the time a dehydration headache occurs, the body is usually severely dehydrated.

Allergic Reaction

• A headache can also be caused by allergies. Common allergens include perfume, food additives (especially MSG), cigarette smoke, pollen, detergents and dyes.

Caffeine Withdrawal

• Habitual coffee drinkers will often experience a headache in the event that they skip their morning coffee.

Hunger

• A headache can often be a sign of hunger, especially in hypoglycemics.

Eye Strain

• Staring at a computer screen for long periods of time---or squinting and straining the eyes to read or watch television can cause a headache in some individuals.

Stress

• Physical or emotional stress is a common headache cause.