Identify your headache

Allergy headaches are very common allergy symptom and are often overlooked. They can be a response to pollen and indoor allergens. Allergy-induced headaches respond to treatment.
 

Tension headache

Caused by stressed out head or neck muscles that keep squeezing too hard. Pain can be on the front, back or sides of your head and tend to be dull but constant.
 

Migraine headaches

are stronger and can be a throbbing pain. Along with head pain there can be sensitivity to light, vomiting or nausea. People who suffer from chronic headaches can learn to identify the stress that triggers their headaches. If the stress cannot be removed or resolved a person can learn different relaxation or stress coping techniques to help avoid the onset of a headache.

Headache trigger

Smoking can be a trigger for many types of headaches. Even breathing smoke can be enough to cause a headache. Try to avoid secondhand smoke. If you smoke, quit.
 

Migraine pain

According to the U.S. National Institutes of Health a migraine is a very painful type of headache. Those who get migraines often describe the pain as pulsing or throbbing in one area of the head. During migraines, people are very sensitive to light and sound and may also become nauseated and vomit. More than 29.5 million Americans suffer from migraine, with women affected three times more often than men and 70-80% of sufferers have a family history.
 

Less than half of all migraine sufferers have received a diagnosis of migraine from their healthcare provider and is often misdiagnosed as a sinus or tension headache. If migraines force you to miss a substantial amount of work or impair your ability function on the job you may want to see your doctor for a treatment plan.
 

Headache help

Caffeine is used in combination with certain pain relievers, such as aspirin or aspirin and acetaminophen to help relieve headaches. When used in this way, caffeine may increase the effectiveness of the other medicines. Keeping track of headaches and triggers in a diary can help to determine a course of treatment.
 

Jennifer Avila-Allen edited this story. She can be reached at MedWatchToday@CommunityMedical.org.