The term ‘headache’ covers any pain around the head, face or neck area.

There are two main types of headache:

• primary – which often “just happen” and are not caused by another injury or illness
• secondary – which are caused by some underlying health condition.

Primary headaches

Primary headaches are the most common. They include tension headaches, migraine and cluster headaches.

Primary headaches can be caused by a number of things including:

• stress
• eye strain or squinting
• poor posture
• dehydration.

Sometimes there is no obvious cause.

Secondary headaches

Secondary headaches have a separate cause, such as illness. They include headaches caused by drinking too much alcohol or a head injury or concussion.

Headaches in women may be caused by hormones, and some women notice a link between headaches and their periods. Hormonal changes due to taking the Pill, menopause and pregnancy can also be triggers for headaches.

Some headaches can even occur as a side effect of medication, such as painkillers. People sometimes get headaches when they’re unwell. For example, you may get a headache when you have a cold, sinusitis, flu or an allergic reaction.

Dehydration

Lack of fluids can cause dehydration and is a common cause of headaches. Fluids are needed for the body to function correctly and may be lost through:

• illness such as vomiting or diarrhoea
• vigorous exercise
• excessive sweating
• alcohol
• having large amounts of drinks containing caffeine such as coffee, tea or cola, which cause you to urinate frequently
• working in hot weather or high-temperature environments.

If you are getting a lot of headaches or concerned talk to your doctor.