Nervous System Conditions / Headaches

submitted by Dr. Gary Farr Last Updated November, 23, 2001

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Headaches - Part 2

Primary Causes of Headaches

• By primary cause, we mean that the headache is not due to some other underlying health condition. The three types of primary headaches are migraine, tension and cluster headaches.

Secondary Causes of Headaches

About 90% of the people seeking help for headaches have one of the primary headache disorders discussed above. In secondary headaches, there is an underlying disorder that produces the headache as a symptom. Many conditions produce headache; some of the most common are listed below.

• Sleep disturbances; anxiety or depression.
  There are many ways to treat these syndromes, both with chiropractic and nutrition (see below).
• Excessive eating or drinking.
  Too much food or the wrong foods can cause any number of organs to malfunction. This includes the liver, pancreas and the intestines.
• Eye strain, including sun glare.
  Because the nervous system is being bombarded with excessive light or because the eye muscles themselves have to work harder.
• Use of drugs or alcohol; low blood sugar.
  One of the most common causes for headaches, if you take drugs, either recreationally or by prescription. Low blood sugar can be corrected by diet and nutritional supplementation (see below).
• Hormone changes during the menstrual cycle.
  Excessive estrogen that can not be metabolized by the liver.
• Allergic reactions.
  This can be from food or other noxious environmental substances.
• Headache Due to Neck Problems
  Some headaches may be caused by abnormalities of the neck muscles resulting from prolonged bad posture (such as sitting in front of a computer keyboard or daily driving for long periods), arthritis, injuries of the upper spine, or abnormalities in the cervical spine (the spinal bones in the neck). Nerves in the neck converge in the trigeminal nerve in the face and can generate pain signals that the brain may interpret as headache. Pain is usually on one side; even if it effects both sides of the head it is usually more severe on one side. The quality of the headache may be similar to an aching tension headache or a mild migraine without auras. Detailed information on the neck can be found here.
• Sinus Headache
  Fever, runny nose, congestion, and general debilitation accompany headaches produced by sinus infection. Sinus headaches are usually around the eyes, across the cheeks, or over the forehead. They are usually mild in the morning and increase during the day. Many primary headaches are misdiagnosed as sinus headache when, in fact, there is no infection; a true sinus headache lasts until the infection is treated. Go here to read about sinusitis.
• Temporomandibular Joint Dysfunction (TMJ)
  TMJ is caused by clenching the jaws or grinding the teeth (usually during sleep), or by abnormalities in the jaw joints themselves. This is known as bruxism. The cause of bruxism must be addressed whether stemming from a physical or psycholgical cause. Physical causes include structual neck and {tmj} jaw joint problems. Psycholgical causes can be any unresolved situation the person cannot find a solution to. This includes personal, marriage and work situations. The diagnosis is easy if chewing produces pain or if jaw motion is restricted or noisy. TMJ pain can occur in the ear, the cheek, temples, or neck and shoulders. For more information go {tmj} here.
• Glaucoma
  Acute {glaucoma} glaucoma is caused by increased pressure in the eye and requires immediate medical attention. Throbbing pain may be felt around or behind the eyes or in the forehead. Patients have redness in the eye and may see halos or rings around lights. Pain may be referred to other areas.


• Brain Tumor
  Fear of brain tumor is common among people with headaches, but headache is almost never the first or only sign of a tumor. Changes in personality and mental functioning, vomiting, seizures, and other symptoms are more likely to appear first. When the headache does develop, it is often worse early in the morning or may awaken sufferers during the night.
• Hypertension
  Although many people attribute headaches to high blood pressure, the two are rarely associated. An exception is malignant hypertension, an uncommon medical emergency, in which the blood pressure abruptly rises to extreme levels, causing damage to blood vessels in the brain, heart, and kidneys. For more information on high blood pressure go here.
• Strokes Caused by Blood Clots or Hemorrhages
  A blood clot or hemorrhage in the brain leading to a stroke can cause a severe headache, sometimes referred to as a thunderclap headache when it is very sudden and severe. The onset of such a headache, particularly if it is associated with confusion, stupor, or other neurologic symptoms, mandates prompt medical attention. It is important to determine if a clot or bleeding is causing the stroke, since treatments are very different. For information regarding strokes, go here.
• Head Injuries
  It is obvious that a significant blow to the head will cause pain. Post-injury headaches, however, can reflect serious damage, ranging from skull fractures to internal bleeding.
• Disorders of the Meninges
  The meninges are the membranes covering the brain and the spinal cord. In very rare instances, ordinary physical strain may injure or weaken the meninges, causing a leakage of cerebrovascular fluid. This can cause severe headache and nausea, which are relieved by lying flat. The condition is very treatable. Meningitis, which is an infection or irritation of these membranes, is an uncommon but potentially serious cause of severe headache. Other symptoms include nausea and stiffness or pain in the neck. Detailed information regarding the spinal cord can be found here.
• Gynecologic Problems
  Many clinicians have anecdotally linked gynecologic problems, such as ovarian cysts and menstrual disorders, to chronic headaches, and new data are emerging to support this association.

Symptoms can be any of the following:

• Dull, aching feeling on both sides of the head.
• Tight muscles in the neck or scalp.
• Not preceded by warnings (aura, prodrome).
• Feelings of fatigue, weakness.
• If severe, nausea, light and sound sensitivity.

Headaches indicating a serious underlying problem, such as cerebrovascular disorder or malignant hypertension, are uncommon. (It should be emphasized again that a headache is not a common symptom of a brain tumor.) People with existing chronic headaches might miss a more serious condition believing it to be one of their usual headaches. Such patients should call a physician promptly if the quality of a headache or accompanying symptoms has changed. Everyone should call a physician for any of the following symptoms:

• Sudden, very severe headache, worse than any headache ever experienced (possible indication of hemorrhage or a ruptured aneurysm);
• Sudden, severe headaches that persist or increase in intensity over 24 hours;
• Chronic or severe headaches that begin after age fifty;
• Headaches accompanied by memory loss, confusion, loss of balance, changes in speech or vision, or loss of strength in or numbness or tingling in arms or legs;
• Headaches after head injury, especially if drowsiness or nausea are present (possibility of hemorrhage);
• Headaches accompanied by fever, stiff neck, nausea and vomiting (possibility of spinal meningitis);
• Headaches that increase with coughing or straining (possibility of brain swelling).
• A throbbing pain around or behind the eyes or in the forehead accompanied by redness in the eye and perceptions of halos or rings around lights (possibility of acute glaucoma).
• A one-sided headache in the temple in elderly people; the artery in the temple is firm and knotty and has no pulse; scalp is tender (possibility of temporal arteritis, which can cause blindness or even stroke if not treated)
• Sudden onset and then persistent, throbbing pain around the eye possibly spreading to the ear or neck unrelieved by pain medication (possibility of blood clot in one of the sinus veins of the brain)

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