What Are Common Causes For Headaches? Get the Answer Here – and Find out How to Get Relief

Headaches are one of the most common health complaints worldwide. The most frequent causes for headaches include stress, poor posture, dehydration, eye strain, lack of sleep, and certain lifestyle habits. Some headaches are triggered by underlying health issues, but most come from daily habits and environment.

If you’re asking yourself, “Why am I getting headaches?”—you’re not alone. Let’s break down the most common causes and what you can do about them.

Why Am I Getting Headaches? The Most Common Causes for Headaches and How to Treat Them

Headaches are one of the most universal pain symptoms. Nearly everyone will have a headache in their lifetime – and 1 in 20 people has a headache every day or nearly every day. Headaches can feel random, but there are often clear triggers. The key is to identify them and tie them to your habits, health, environment, or other factors, so you can stop them before they start. Here are some of the most common causes for headaches:

1. Stress and Tension

Can stress give you headaches? The answer: a resounding yes.

• How it happens: Stress causes muscles in your shoulders, neck, and head to tighten, which can lead to tension headaches.
• Example triggers: Deadlines, long work hours, emotional stress.

2. Poor Posture

Can bad posture give you headaches? Nearly every day we have patients asking if its really true – does bad posture cause headaches? The answer is yes, posture and headaches are closely linked. Just one more reason why good spinal health is so important.

• How it happens: Slouching or craning your head forward puts pressure on your neck and upper back, which can lead to headaches.
• Example triggers: Sitting at a computer all day, looking down at your phone, working from a poorly set-up desk.

3. Dehydration

“But I’m not even thirsty.” If you’ve ever doubted the wisdom of drinking plenty of water or asked, “Does dehydration cause headaches?” We’re here confirm: it does, indeed.

• How it happens: Your brain and body need water to function. Even mild dehydration can trigger headaches.
• Example triggers: Skipping water, drinking too much caffeine or alcohol.

4. Eye Strain

Eye strain is a surprising cause of headache pain – not because people don’t understand the physical connection, but because most of us don’t realize that our habits are straining our eyes. At least, until a brutal tension headache sets in.

• How it happens: Staring at screens or reading without breaks strains eye muscles. This can trigger headaches around the forehead and temples.
• Example triggers: Too much screen time, needing a new glasses prescription.

5. Sleep Issues

Too many of us aren’t getting enough good, restorative sleep. Poor sleep can not only cause headaches, it can also lead to us drinking too little water, eating too much sugar, slouching, and not getting the exercise we need. In short, it’s the perfect formula for headache pain.

• How it happens: Both too little and too much sleep can cause headaches. Poor sleep quality makes them more frequent.
• Example triggers: Staying up late, irregular schedules, sleep apnea.

6. Diet and Lifestyle Factors

The causes of headaches can be myriad and complex. There may not be a single food or drink that is a headache trigger for you (although the ones we’ve listed below are known culprits.) It may be an overall lack of nutrition, chronic inflammation, excess sugar or sodium intake, or a mix of factors that tie your headache symptoms to your diet.

• How it happens: Certain foods, drinks, or habits trigger headaches in some people.
• Common headache triggers:
  • Alcohol (especially red wine)
  • Skipping meals
  • Caffeine (too much or sudden withdrawal)
  • Highly processed foods

Table: Things That Cause Headaches at a Glance

Cause	How It Triggers Headaches	Example Scenario
Stress	Muscle tension	Tight deadlines at work
Posture	Neck and back strain	Slouching at a desk
Dehydration	Reduced brain hydration	Forgetting to drink water
Eye strain	Overuse of eye muscles	Long hours on a laptop
Sleep issues	Poor rest and recovery	Staying up past midnight
Diet	Food and drink triggers	Skipping meals or too much caffeine

Finding Relief from Headaches

While some headaches may need medical care, many improve with simple lifestyle changes. Here are a few quick tips for relief from headaches:

• Drink more water – dehydration is one of the easiest fixes.
• Take screen breaks – follow the 20-20-20 rule (every 20 minutes, look 20 feet away for 20 seconds).
• Check your posture – keep your ears over your shoulders and adjust your desk setup.
• Manage stress – try stretching, breathing exercises, or short walks.
• Sleep smarter – aim for 7–9 hours of consistent, good-quality rest.

FAQ: Headaches and Common Questions

Q: What are common causes for headaches?
 A: Stress, poor posture, dehydration, eye strain, lack of sleep, and certain foods or drinks.

Q: Can stress give you headaches?
 A: Yes. Stress is one of the most frequent headache triggers, especially tension headaches.

Q: Can posture cause headaches?
 A: Absolutely. Poor posture creates strain in your neck and back that often leads to headaches.

Q: What are quick ways to get relief from headaches?
 A: Hydrate, rest, take screen breaks, stretch, and manage stress.

Q: When should I see a doctor?
 A: If headaches are severe, sudden, or frequent, it’s best to get checked out.

Headaches may feel complicated, but the most common causes for headaches are often connected to daily habits—stress, posture, hydration, sleep, and lifestyle choices. Paying attention to these triggers can make a big difference in preventing and finding relief from headaches.

Subscribe to the blog for more information on treating headache pain and be on the lookout for our next post where we dive deeper into the common musculoskeletal causes of headaches: “Referred Pain Causing Headaches: How Your Neck, Spine, or Jaw Could Be Causing Pain.”