How to Identify Headache Risk Factors

All kinds of people get headaches for many different reasons, but some people are more likely to get headaches than others. There are some risk factors associated with headaches that increase your likelihood of getting them. If you have multiple risk factors, your likelihood goes up even more. There are different risk factors for the different types of headaches, such as tension headaches, migraines and sinus headaches. If you identify your own risk factors for getting headaches, you can take the necessary steps to mitigate the causes and prevent the symptoms.

Instructions

• 1

  Evaluate your mental condition. People with depression, anxiety and high levels of stress are at risk for developing tension headaches. Stress can also make you at risk for migraines.

• 2

  Note your sleeping habits. Sleep apnea, insomnia, teeth grinding and simply not getting enough sleep can cause you to get a headache.

• 3

  Identify medicinal triggers you might be taking. Birth control pills, hormone replacement pills and other medications can contribute to headache risk. Talk to your doctor about the side effects of the medications you take.

• 4

  Check out your family history. Genetics play a big role in headache risk. About 40 percent of tension headache sufferers have a family history of tension headaches, and about 90 percent of migraine sufferers have a family history of migraines.

• 5

  Get a standard physical exam with blood work. People with high blood pressure and/or anemia are at risk of getting tension headaches.

• 6

  Examine your diet. Eating and drinking some things can increase your risk for headaches. For example, drinking alcohol and eating chocolate can trigger migraines.

• 7

  Evaluate your overall health. Some conditions increase your risk of developing a sinus headache, including allergies, asthma, viral or bacterial infections of the nasal cavities, ears or respiratory system, cystic fibrosis and irregular nasal structures. You can visit an ear, nose and throat specialist to identify if you have any of these conditions.

• 8

  Take stock of your bad habits. Men who are heavy smokers and/or drinkers are at risk for developing cluster headaches for reasons no one can identify. Women can get cluster headaches as well, but they are far less at risk.

• 9

  Check your posture. Bad posture or contorting your neck and shoulders into awkward positions can cause tension headaches from muscle stress. Stretching your muscles and making sure you sleep in a natural position can help eliminate this risk factor.