What causes headaches? Migraine headache is caused by inflammation or irritation of structures that surround the brain or affect its function. While the brain itself has no pain nerve fibers, everything else above the shoulders, from the neck, skull, and face, can cause an individual to own head pain. Systemic illnesses, including infection or dehydration, can have associated headaches. These are called toxic headaches. Changes in circulation and blood flow or trauma may also cause headache. Changes in brain chemistry may be related to types of headache: Medication reactions, substance abuse and termination can all cause pain. Every person is different because the history of the headache is very important. Recognizing patterns or precipitating (foods eaten, stress, etc.) factors, together with the physical examination and associated symptoms, can help identify the cause for every individual's specific headache. Types of common headaches Many people are aware of some kind of the thr