Headache specialists classify headaches into two categories: primary and secondary.

Secondary headaches occur due to an identifiable cause, such as a brain tumor, infection, inflammatory condition, or sinus or dental health issues. These underlying conditions require medical treatment.

On the other hand, primary headaches have no identifiable cause following a routine medical evaluation.

Migraines fall into this category and are characterized by varying intensity. They are often accompanied by nausea and sensitivity to light, sound, or smells. Sometimes, migraines are preceded by warning symptoms.

While it’s commonly believed that factors like hormonal changes, certain foods and drinks (including alcohol), lack of sleep, weather patterns, and exercise trigger migraines, we now understand that these are often not the true cause.

Instead, if medical evaluations do not identify any disease or injury, or if treatments fail to provide expected improvement, it is likely that the brain is generating or contributing to the pain. This is called a neuroplastic symptom. It results from changes in neural pathways linked to past or present stress or other life challenges (often not fully recognized). The good news is, these patterns can be reversed through neuroplastic healing.