My grandfather had a headache every day of is life. He lived to be 93 and could not remember one day when he did not suffer from a headache, whether it was a minor one or a very painful one. Chiropractors seemed to help some, but nothing could take them away completely.

We never learned what caused his headaches. Ordinary headaches were long thought to be the result of tension, hence the name ‘tension headache’. Contemporary research is suggesting that is unlikely, though the causes remain mysterious.

Some researchers suspect that, as with migraines, the underlying cause is more likely to be the interaction of serotonin with nerve cells. Research involving anti-depressants and other drugs that alter the levels of this neurotransmitter has provided some evidence to support the claim. But the search for an answer continues.

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Sinus headaches run in my family. I had my first sinus infection when I was 15 after we moved to a new home that had a lot of weeds on a hillside next to our house. I still have at least one sinus headache a month.

Not all headaches are caused by sinus trouble. There are over 300 medical conditions cataloged that can produce or accompany a headache. But one of the more common is one known as sinusitis. Often misdiagnosed, when in fact the condition is a migraine, full or inflamed sinuses (along with the accompanying pressure) can definitely cause pain in the face and head - by definition, a headache.

Sinuses are cavities within the facial bones, above the eyes and behind the nose and cheekbones. Lined with tissue and mucus, the lining can become irritated and one or more cavities full of fluid. They can become so full as to have the two sides touch. That irritation and fullness produces pressure and pain.

If your headache pain is centered behind one or both of your cheeks or over one or both of your eyes, it is likely a sinus headache. If you feel extreme pressure when you lean over and put your head down, that is another sign that it is a sinus headache.

Often the result of a common cold, sinus headaches are so-called ’secondary headaches’ because they result from an underlying medical condition. ‘Primary headaches’ such as tension or migraine headaches are the condition itself, though they too have causes, of course.

Treatment can vary widely depending on the true cause of the condition. When the result of a ordinary cold, time is the only cure, though there are obviously hundreds of symptom-relief medicines on the market.

Some contain alcohol, which can make you drowsy but actually worsen a headache. Many have aspirin or acetaminophen which can be effective, though patients should take care not to overdose. One type of headache, aptly named MOH - Medication Overuse Headache - can result from too much medication.

Others may be the result of more serious conditions. Because of genetic variation, some individuals actually have a mildly deviated septum. That can produce pockets or channels that hold or accumulate fluid - the result can be a form of sinusitis. Surgery can correct such conditions, though of course the costs are high and the recovery can vary. Correct diagnosis is key.

For more minor causes, symptomatic relief may be enough. Cold or hot compresses on the face can help reduce swelling and alleviate some pain. Nasal sprays are available in abundance and some do actually work. Caution is called for here again, though. Nasal sprays can actually increase irritation if the patient overdoses. Ask your doctor about salt sprays such as Simply Saline. You might be able to use that every day.

Sometimes the condition is the temporary result of environmental factors. Rapid pressure changes in airplane flights, mild allergens, even stress can change the pressure and condition of the sinuses. Changes in the weather are sometimes responsible, as the outside or general air pressure and humidity can affect the interior sinuses. They are, after all, connected.

Allergic reactions can produce a sinus headache, though this affects a relatively small portion of those who suffer from them. My daughter gets terrible headaches if she eats anything with even a tiny hint of tree nuts in it.

Even temporary allergic reactions need not be the result of an immune condition. Pathogens in the air or food can cause those not normally susceptible to experience similar headache pain.

In almost all cases, once the sinuses are drained of excess fluid, and the inflammation ceases, the headache pain disappears as well. Sometimes that can be aided by the old fashioned inhalation of steam method. In other cases, modern antibiotics are called for.

If you suffer from sinus headaches be sure to consult your physician for proper diagnosis and ask probing questions to examine all your treatment options. It is much better to get professional help and find a cure than to suffer for years unnecessarily.

I do not like headaches at all, and even though I do everything to avoid them I get a headache several times a month. My poor grandfather had a headache every day of his life until his death at 93. Often they were small, but some days he would have a severe one. Still he would go out and do the farm chores and plow the fields. He was much tougher than I am.
Given the variety of headaches, and headache sufferers, it shouldn’t be surprising that the causes are equally diverse. There are literally hundreds of possible causes for headaches. Some are the result of underlying medical problems, such as (in rare cases) brain tumors or cerebral aneurysms. But the most common headaches have common causes.

In many cases, simple eyestrain (such as from working too long at the computer) can produce a headache. In other cases, ordinary inflammation of the sinuses (due to head cold or allergy) can be the cause. My daughter gets allergy headaches. I took her to the doctor and she prescribed two over-the-counter things to take every day. If you suffer from these, your doctor can probably help you, too.
Overuse of certain prescription medicines can produce a headache of a type labeled, appropriately enough, MOH (medication overuse headache). Some people get headaches from chocolate, from sugar, from tree nuts, and from any number of other food culprits. More on that topic later in this post.

Though the exact cause isn’t known in every instance, constriction of blood vessels is thought to be the culprit in a range of cases. Pain-sensitive nerve fibers in the head line blood vessel walls. When they contract (or dilate) the nerves are activated, sending signals to the brain. Ironically, the brain itself can’t feel pain since it has no pain-sensitive nerve cells within it. Tension-type headaches or cluster headaches are the result.

But blood vessels can dilate as well as contract. When they do, so one theory goes, migraines and cluster headaches can be produced. Current research suggests that there are other, perhaps more important, factors at work in migraines.

Tension headaches can result from other causes, such as tension in the muscles of the neck, shoulder and even the jaw. Those who have experienced TMJ disorder (a condition resulting from tension of the temporomandibular joint, in which the jaw tightens against the skull) are familiar with this last.

In more serious cases, headaches are the result of some underlying disease, where they are labeled ’secondary headaches’. This happens when a patient suffers from encephalitis or brain cancer, for example. But the list of diseases that can cause headaches is also lengthy. Everything from irritable bowel syndrome to rabies or scarlet fever can be the culprit.

In many cases, environmental factors are at work. Carbon monoxide poisoning, resulting from a gas of the type produced by automobile exhaust, can cause severe headaches. In fact, headache is one of the chief symptoms of the condition.

Allergies, such as sensitivity to pollen, are the problem for some. Lead poisoning is a potential cause of headaches, though less a problem these days. Food poisoning is still fairly common, though.

Even when food isn’t actually toxic in general, such as being laced with a bacteria, certain individuals may be sensitive to compounds that won’t affect people in general. Common foods as chocolate or cheese can cause headaches in some. Caffeine has long been known to produce headaches when taken in too large a quantity. Some preservatives, such as monosodium glutamate, can produce headache pain. Red wine, even in moderation, does it for some.

Other things such as position, posture and other controllable factors may well be some of the most common causes, especially today. As more and more people use computers on a daily basis, more people are producing neck tension, jaw stress, eyestrain and facial tightening. Any of these can produce a headache if the circumstances persist, as they often do for information workers.

Approximately 85%-90% of headaches are common tension headaches, and they are typically the result of one or more of the above. That means, in the overwhelming majority of cases, the cure is simple and within your control. If your headaches are causing you to lose a lot of work or are coming more and more frequently, see your doctor. He or she might be able to stop them altogether, or at least prescribe something that can help reduce the severity or the frequency.