Complex Headache Causes

Everybody has an occasional headache, which is usually harmless. Sometimes, however, a headache can be indications of life-threatening diseases. In 2007, the International Headache Society created a classification system to help physicians diagnose underlying causes of headaches. The classifications are: primary headaches, secondary headaches, and cranial neuralgias.

Primary Headaches

• Dilation of arteries and veins in the head causes migraine and cluster headaches.

  Primary headaches are not associated with or caused by other illnesses, and are generally easy to diagnose. Examples are tension headaches, migraine headaches and cluster headaches. Tension headaches are caused by muscle contraction. Migraine and cluster headaches are caused by swelling of the blood vessels in the head. Blood vessel walls, membranes covering the brain, and nerve endings in the scalp, neck and face are pain sensitive. Actual brain tissue has no pain sensitivity.

Secondary Headaches

• Secondary headaches are more complex to diagnose, and are usually caused by an underlying condition. Causes of secondary headaches range from bleeding in the brain, aneurysms, tumors, strokes, meningitis, encephalitis, Epstein Barr virus, high or low intracranial pressure, traumatic head injury, arteriovenous defects and temporal arteritis. You should be concerned that your headache is of the secondary type if you have a headache almost every day, and if the pain is of the aching type. You may also feel disoriented and nauseous.

Arteriovenous Malformations

• Arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) are defects that are believed to arise during the embryonic or fetal stage or soon after birth. They are twisted tangles of arteries and veins. The presence of AVMs disrupts the process of arteries carrying oxygen-rich blood to the brain cells and veins taking oxygen-depleted blood away. AVMs located in the brain or spinal cord can have especially debilitating effects on your body. Headaches and possible seizures are the most common symptoms. Sometimes a headache consistently affecting one side of the head may be closely linked to the site of an AVM.

Temporal Arteritis

• If you have painful headaches and are over 50 years old, you may have temporal arteritis.

  If you are experiencing painful headaches for the first time and are older than 50 years old, temporal arteritis may prove to be the cause. Temporal arteritis is inflammation of the blood vessels that supply the head, particularly the arteries that branch from the neck. Symptoms include pain aggravated by chewing and impaired vision. If you have this condition, you may become blind.

Cranial Neuralgia

• Cranial neuralgia occurs when the nerves in the head and upper neck become inflamed and sensitive. If you have cranial neuralgia, you may also experience facial pain.

Seek Medical Help

• Severe and persistent headaches can signal numerous dangerous conditions such as meningitis, strokes and even heart attacks. You should seek medical advice immediately for headaches that are not responding to medication, or are persistent and extremely painful. Work with your doctor to diagnose and manage your headaches. Pay close attention to your symptoms so you can describe them as accurately as possible. Make note of your headache's location, duration, nature and severity. Try to determine what triggers your headaches.