Why Do I Keep Getting Headaches? Common Causes and What to Look For
If you find yourself asking, “Why do I keep getting headaches?”, you’re certainly not alone.
Occasional headaches are common, but when headaches keep coming back, it can be frustrating trying to work out what is causing them. You might notice them after a long day at your computer, during a stressful period, after poor sleep, or alongside tightness through your neck and shoulders.
The tricky part is that there isn’t always one obvious cause. Headaches can have many different triggers and contributing factors, and the pattern can be different from person to person.
In this article, we’ll look at some common reasons headaches can keep returning, what your headache pattern might tell you, how your neck can sometimes be involved, and when it’s important to have recurring headaches assessed.
Why do I keep getting headaches?
There are many different types of headaches, and headaches can have different causes.
Some headaches are primary headaches, meaning the headache itself is the main condition. Tension-type headaches and migraines are common examples.
Other headaches are secondary headaches, meaning they are related to another underlying problem or condition.
This is one reason it can be difficult to identify a single cause just by looking at where your head hurts.
If your headaches are becoming more frequent, changing in nature, interfering with your normal activities, or requiring frequent use of pain-relieving medication, it’s worth discussing them with your doctor.
Link to: Healthdirect’s Headaches page.
Could your headaches be tension headaches or migraines?
Before trying to work out what is triggering your headaches, it can be helpful to consider what your headaches actually feel like.
Tension-type headaches are often described as a dull ache, pressure or tightening sensation. They commonly affect both sides of the head and may occur alongside tenderness or tension around the neck, shoulders or scalp.
Migraines can feel quite different. They may involve moderate to severe head pain, often with symptoms such as nausea or sensitivity to light or sound. Some people also experience an aura before or during a migraine.
These are just general patterns rather than a way to diagnose your own headache. If you’re unsure what type of headache you’re experiencing, particularly if your headaches are frequent or changing, speak with your doctor.
Related: Osteopathy for Headaches
Common contributors to recurring headaches
When headaches keep returning, it can be useful to look beyond the headache itself and consider what is happening around the time they occur.
1. Stress and changes in routine
Stress is a common headache trigger, but it’s not necessarily as simple as saying that stress “causes” your headache.
Periods of increased stress can also change your sleep, eating patterns, exercise, muscle tension and daily routine. For some people, headaches may even appear when a stressful period comes to an end.
2. Sleep
Both too little and too much sleep can be associated with headaches for some people.
If your headaches seem to follow a few late nights, disrupted sleep or a major change in your usual routine, this is worth noting rather than assuming the headache is unrelated.
3. Not eating regularly
Skipping meals can trigger headaches for some people. This can be particularly easy to do on busy workdays, when you’re looking after young children, or when your usual routine changes.
4. Dehydration
Not drinking enough fluid can contribute to headaches. If you regularly find yourself getting to the afternoon having barely had anything to drink, it’s a simple factor worth considering.
5. Screen time and sustained positions
Spending hours at a computer, looking down at a phone or staying in one position for a long period doesn’t automatically mean that your posture is “causing” your headache.
However, prolonged screen use can be associated with factors such as visual strain, reduced movement, sustained positions and increased tension through the neck and upper body. If your headaches regularly appear after long periods at a desk, it’s worth looking at the bigger picture.
6. Jaw clenching or teeth grinding
Some people clench their jaw or grind their teeth, particularly during periods of stress or concentration. This can contribute to tension around the jaw, face, temples and neck and may be relevant when investigating recurring headaches.
7. Changes in exercise
Changes in your usual exercise routine can sometimes coincide with headaches. This might include suddenly increasing your training load, exercising in hot conditions, not replacing fluids, or simply changing your normal routine.
The key is to look for patterns rather than assuming that one particular factor is responsible.
Related Reading: 7 Headache Triggers We Commonly See in Our Essendon Clinic
Could your neck be contributing to your headaches?
If you regularly experience headaches alongside neck stiffness, upper back tension or discomfort around your shoulders, you may wonder whether your neck is causing your headaches.
There can be a relationship between the neck and some types of headache, particularly when headache symptoms occur alongside musculoskeletal symptoms. However, having a tight neck doesn’t automatically mean that your headache is coming from your neck.
This is why a broader assessment can be useful. Rather than assuming that one tight muscle is the problem, it’s worth considering your headache pattern, neck and upper back symptoms, daily activities, sleep, exercise and other relevant factors.
If you’d like to learn more about the relationship between neck tension and headaches, we’ve written about this in more detail here:
Can Neck Tension Really Cause Headaches?
Your headache pattern can give you useful information
If you’re getting headaches regularly, try paying attention to what happens before, during and after them.
For example, you might notice that your headaches:
- tend to appear at a particular time of day
- happen after long periods at a computer
- coincide with poor sleep
- occur when you’ve skipped a meal
- appear during particularly stressful periods
- are accompanied by neck or jaw tension
- change when you increase or decrease your exercise
- occur around particular stages of your menstrual cycle
None of these observations automatically tells you what is causing your headache. But identifying patterns can give you and your healthcare professional useful information when working out what might be contributing.
Try keeping a headache diary
If your headaches are recurring, keeping a simple headache diary can be a useful place to start.
You don’t need to record every detail of your day. Instead, try noting:
- when the headache started
- how long it lasted
- how severe it was
- where you felt it
- any other symptoms you noticed
- how well you had slept
- what you’d eaten and drunk
- what you had been doing beforehand
- whether you had been exercising
- any significant stress or changes to your routine
After a few weeks, you may start to notice patterns that weren’t obvious before.
A headache diary can also be useful to take to your GP if your headaches are frequent or you’re concerned about them.
You can print out a sample of a headache diary here.
When should you see a doctor about recurring headaches?
Most headaches are not caused by a serious underlying condition. However, headaches can sometimes be a sign of something that requires medical assessment.
You should seek medical advice if your headaches are becoming more frequent or severe, are changing from your usual pattern, or are interfering with your normal activities.
Urgent medical attention is important if you experience a sudden, severe headache, particularly one that comes on very quickly, or a headache accompanied by symptoms such as confusion, significant changes in vision, weakness, loss of balance, seizures, fever and neck stiffness.
Headaches following a significant head injury, or headaches that progressively worsen, should also be medically assessed.
If you’re unsure whether your headache needs medical attention, it’s better to seek advice rather than assuming it is a musculoskeletal problem.
How can an osteopath help with recurring headaches?
If you’ve had recurring headaches assessed and there are musculoskeletal factors that may be contributing, an osteopath can consider these as part of a broader assessment.
At Lifespan Osteopathy in Essendon, this starts with taking a detailed history and looking at the pattern of your headaches, your symptoms and relevant aspects of your lifestyle and activity.
Depending on your individual presentation, an assessment may consider areas such as your neck, upper back, shoulders and jaw, as well as movement and other factors that may be relevant to your symptoms.
Management may include hands-on treatment, exercise or movement advice and other self-management strategies where appropriate.
Importantly, not every headache is related to the muscles or joints around your neck. A good assessment also involves recognising when your symptoms may require medical investigation or referral to another healthcare professional.
Recurring headaches don’t always have one simple cause
If you’re asking yourself, “Why do I keep getting headaches?”, it can be tempting to look for one simple answer.
But headaches can be influenced by a combination of factors, including sleep, stress, hydration, eating patterns, exercise, screen time, jaw tension and musculoskeletal symptoms.
Rather than focusing on one possible trigger, it can be more helpful to look at the bigger picture and identify patterns over time.
And if your headaches are frequent, worsening, changing or affecting your everyday life, getting them properly assessed is an important place to start.
If you’re in Essendon, Moonee Ponds, Strathmore, Niddrie, Pascoe Vale or surrounding Melbourne suburbs and would like to discuss recurring headaches with an osteopath, Lifespan Osteopathy can help you work through your individual presentation and determine whether osteopathic care is appropriate.
Looking for help with recurrent headaches?
If you’re experiencing headaches alongside neck tension, stiffness, or discomfort, an assessment may help identify whether your neck is contributing to your symptoms.
At Lifespan Osteopathy, we take the time to understand your individual situation and work with you to develop a management plan tailored to your goals and needs.
Whether your symptoms are recent or something you’ve been dealing with for years, we’re here to help you better understand what’s going on and support you in moving forward.
Call on (03) 9372 7714, or book online now.