Headache? Why Eating Too Many Sandwiches, Not Getting Enough Sleep and Having a Hot Shower Each Day May Be to Blame! by Charlotte Dovey

Headache? Why Eating Too Many Sandwiches, Not Getting Enough Sleep and Having a Hot Shower Each Day May Be to Blame! by Charlotte Dovey: "When you suffer a headache, the temptation is to reach immediately for the painkillers. But trying to pinpoint the cause might help reduce the pain – and even prevent the problem occurring again.

Headaches are one of the most frequent reasons for going to the GP or neurological clinics, says Giles Elrington, a neurologist at the Barts and London NHS Trust and trustee of the London Migraine Clinic.

‘In all headaches, and that includes migraines, the physiological explanation is the same,’ he says.

‘An electrical circuit at the back of the brain – known as the trigemino-cervical neurovascular pathway – fires off incorrectly, generating pain in the head. Think of a fire alarm ringing without the fire.’

The good news is that despite the universal fear, a headache is rarely the sign of a brain tumour. ‘Fewer than 1 per cent of people who consult their GP about a headache actually have something seriously wrong with them,’ says Mr Elrington.

‘Nevertheless, in all cases, it’s important to"