Almost 50% of all people in the world suffer from headaches. A headache is on the World Health Organization’s list of the 10 most common causes of disability (among men) and 5 (among women). In this article, we collect some of the unusual causes of a headache.
Sunlight And Vitamin D Deficiency
According to studies from the University of Eastern Finland, vitamin D deficiency increases the risk of chronic headaches.
The scientists analyzed the serum levels of vitamin D in approximately 2,600 people. People with the lowest serum vitamin D levels were more likely to develop chronic headaches than others.
Men examined outside of the summer months also reported chronic headaches more frequently, as the level of solar radiation was lower during the other seasons.
Bright light
People with headaches often try to avoid bright light and spend more time in dark rooms. Studies from the Beth Israel Medical Center have identified new connections between neurons in the eyes and neurons in the brain that control our mood on physical parameters such as heart rate, shortness of breath, fatigue, and nausea.
In addition to the fact that bright light can be the cause of a headache, it causes patients to suffer from annoyance, anger, anxiety, and despair. Survey participants also mentioned that they felt constant discomfort, nausea, and shortness of breath.
Thunder And Lightning
Scientists at the University of Cincinnati used mathematical models to determine whether lightning itself was the cause of the increased frequency of headaches or could be attributed to other climatic factors.
The results revealed a 19% increase in the risk of headaches on light days, even taking into account climatic factors. This suggests that the rays have their own unique effect on people and their susceptibility to headaches.
Geoffrey Martin points out that the exact mechanisms by which lightning and weather factors such as humidity and barometric pressure trigger headaches are unknown. However, this study shows links between lightning strikes and the occurrence of headaches.
Depression And Anxiety
588 headache patients participated in a study conducted at the National Defense Medical Center in Taiwan. In most cases, anxiety, depression, and unhealthy sleep were the main reasons for the pain.
It appeared that factors such as emotional distress and the frequency of headaches could influence each other through a common pathophysiological mechanism. For example, emotional responses have the potential to alter pain perception and modulation through certain signaling pathways.
Fu-Chi Yang, the author of this research, points out that the results potentially suggest that appropriate medical treatment to decrease the frequency of headaches may reduce the risk of depression and anxiety in migraine patients.
Medicines Containing Codeine
According to studies conducted at the University of Adelaide, taking large doses of codeine-containing medications can contribute to severe headaches. It is a frequent problem among patients with high sensitivity to pain.
Jacinta Johnson says: “Pain sensitivity is a big problem for opioid drug users because the more you take, the more your pain sensitivity can increase, so you may never get the level of relief you need. In the long run, it has the effect of making the problem worse rather than better. “
What usually gives you a headache? How do you deal with it? Share your thoughts with us in the comments.
