Headaches - risk factors and complications

Who is at greater risk for headaches?

You may be more susceptible to suffering frequent headaches if:

• You are female – women are 3 times more likely to experience migraines and various headache types. Other types of headaches tend to affect males during childhood more so than females (before puberty). Hormonal changes in the body affect females more often, which may lead to the development of headaches (before menstruation, during pregnancy or menopause).
• You experience or suffer from depression or anxiety
• You are obese
• You experience trouble with your sleeping habits
• You snore (when asleep – 24% of chronic headache sufferers are habitual snorers, although it is unclear if snoring causes headaches or vice versa)
• You overuse medications (such as pain-relievers) or consume excess caffeine
• You have a family history of migraines (one or both parents)

Common complications

If headaches are frequently occurring, it can have an effect on job productivity and overall quality of life. Chronic headaches, whatever the type, can affect a person’s ability to live and move freely, forcing an individual to retreat in order to recover and heal.

If your ability to function normally is impaired because of headaches, it is important to seek medical advice to determine the underlying cause and effectively treat your condition, so as to avoid any debilitating effects on your lifestyle.