What Causes Headaches and Migraines?

Are you tired of fighting off headaches and migraines? Constantly trying to avoid triggers and battling to stay ahead of the symptoms? If you want to stop chasing symptoms and find out the real cause of your headaches and migraines, then keep reading.

Headache and Migraine Facts

To understand ‘what’s the cause of my headache’ or ‘how to relive headaches’, first lets learn more about headaches and migraines.

Headaches disorders are an invisible illness which are often overlooked and misunderstood. With around 40% of the population worldwide affected by this condition, it makes them a leading cause of disability. Yet, there are many misconceptions when it comes to headaches, and in particular migraines.

Migraines are more than just a headache. They are a complex neurological event that can be deeply disabling, with symptoms ranging from headaches to dizziness, to visual disturbances. Migraines affect around 20% of Australians (that’s 4.9 million people), with women being 3 times more likely to experience symptoms than men.

The Difference Between Triggers vs Root Causes

A common struggle amongst headache and migraine sufferers is identifying headache triggers or figuring out what is the root cause of my headache.

Its often considered that bright lights, alcohol, chocolate, weather changes, skipped meals, exercise and lack of sleep are the cause of headaches or migraines, and whilst it is true that they are often implicated in triggering an attack, it’s important to acknowledge they are not the cause of the condition. Sure, it is certainly beneficial to try to avoid known triggers, but it still won’t address the underlying cause of the symptoms.

So, what causes headaches? The causes of headaches and migraines are generally multifactorial, stemming from a combination of physiological, neurological and lifestyle factors. They are the result of a cascade of dysfunctions that interact and amplify each other. The “triggering” events are the result of an over sensitized nervous system, particularly the brainstem, reacting to normal stimuli in a heightened or abnormal way.

Figuring out your root causes and treating them can lead to better outcomes and allow a better way to manage migraines and provide headache relief.

Root Causes:

Now that we have discussed the difference between root causes and triggers, let dive deeper into what potential root causes might be responsible for your headache pain and how to help headaches.

1. Neck dysfunction causing headaches and migraines

Dysfunction in the upper cervical vertebrae of the neck is a leading cause of headaches and migraines. When the neck has been under strain for a long period of time, the nerves that exit the spine at the upper levels become hypersensitized. These nerves travel into the brainstem which contains the trigeminal cervical nucleus, which sends and receives messages from your neck, face and head. Dysfunction in these nerves cause the brainstem to become sensitized and more reactive to stimuli. Hypersensitivity in the brainstem creates all the classic symptoms of headaches and migraines such as head and facial pain, light, sound and smell sensitivity, auras, dizziness, nausea and vomiting. Essentially, chronic neck pain that is left unaddressed can lead to oversensitivity in the brainstem causing all the common symptoms of headaches. A history of whiplash or having incorrect posture are common factors that also contribute.

2. Hormonal changes causing headaches and migraines

Falling rates of estrogen and progesterone result in a reduced capacity to cope with pain, while prostaglandin released during menstruation causes inflammation, both of which increase the risk of a migraine attack. In most cases headaches or migraines will occur immediately before menstruation, and sometimes immediately post ovulation. Perimenopause and menopause can also influence hormonal headaches.

3. Stress related headaches and migraines

Stress can affect how your body processes and deals with pain. When we are stressed, it can cause muscle tension, bruxism, heightened response to stimuli, serotonin disruption, and poor sleep quality, all of which can contribute to headache pain and migraine pain. Stress also sets off our fight or flight response, which can lead to changes in blood flow and trigger headache and migraine attacks.

4. Gut health and headaches

The link between the gut and headaches via the gut-brain axis has been well established. The vagus nerve originates in the brainstem and plays a key role in the bidirectional communication between the gut and the brain. Meaning that inflammation in the gut affects the brain and inflammation in the brainstem affects the gut. Gastrointestinal inflammation, dysbiosis of the microbiome, leaky gut and autoimmune conditions such a coeliac disease have all been linked to the question what causes headaches and why do I get migraines.

5. Temporomandibular Joint Dysfunction causing headaches and migraines

The jaw (TMJ), the neck and the skull are all very closely located and dysfunction in one area, commonly results in dysfunction in other areas. Pain from TMJ dysfunction will usually originate in the temples or around the ears, and towards the base of the skull. Stress, clenching and grinding of teeth, arthritis or trauma to the jaw can all contribute to TMJ pain and secondly can cause TMJ related headaches.

6. Nutritional Deficiencies contributing to headaches and migraines

There are multiple nutritional deficiencies that have been linked to increasing the chance of headache pain or chronic migraines. Nutritional deficiencies often found in headache and migraine sufferers include magnesium, vitamin D and B vitamins.

7. Genetics’ role in headache and migraine pain

Research suggests that genetics can play a role in the development of migraines with an estimated 60% of cases believed to have hereditary factors. The concept of migraines as a genetic disorder is constantly evolving and we are still gaining a full understanding of how genetics affects migraines. In particular, migraines with aura and familial hemiplegic migraine have been found to have strong genetic links.

Headache and migraine causes are multifactorial. Imagine you have a bucket, its half filled by neck dysfunction, you add in some hormonal fluctuations and stress, and it becomes full to the brim. Add one more thing and suddenly it overflows. Now normally that last thing that was added to the bucket wouldn’t cause a headache but given all the other things already in your bucket you end up suffering a headache or migraine pain. This is why it is important to understand the root cause of your headaches or find out what is causing my migraine, rather than treating your triggers. Figuring out what your root causes are and addressing what you can will help to stop that bucket from overflowing.

If you’re looking to further understand your migraine pain or get to the bottom of why do I get headaches, our osteopath Helen is here to help! Helen is a Watson Headache practitioner and over the past 12 years has been dedicated to understanding the complex world of chronic headaches, migraines, and TMJ dysfunction.