Headaches Treating And Preventing Migraine And Other Headaches: Headaches Migraines

Content provided by the Faculty of the Harvard Medical School

Headaches: Treating and preventing migraine and other headaches

Headache is one of the most common types of pain. In any given year, almost 90% of men and 95% of women have at least one headache. In most cases, the pain probably isn't an omen of some terrible disease, but instead a response to the realities of modern life: stress, fatigue, exposure to allergens, and lack of sleep. Of course, that doesn't make your headaches any less painful. But there are effective strategies for treating and even preventing them.

Over-the-counter pain relievers, such as aspirin, acetaminophen, and ibuprofen, often provide relief for occasional headaches, especially when combined with rest and a bite to eat. But if this approach doesn't alleviate the pain, many other medications are available. The type of medication your physician recommends will depend on the type of headache you have. For example, certain muscle relaxants ease pain while addressing the underlying cause of tension headaches, while ergots and triptans can stop certain types of migraine attacks while they're in progress.

Learning to recognize what triggers your headache is a first step in preventing another.

Preventive strategies usually include medications along with other types of therapies, such as stress management, physical therapy, and exercise. Another aspect of prevention is learning to recognize and change things that may trigger your headaches — such as reducing emotional stress, replacing harsh lights, or getting enough sleep. These efforts will be worth it. Advances in the medical management of headache mean that relief is no longer just possible, but probable. Almost everyone can find at least some headache relief.

This report discusses a wide range of available medications and headache-management techniques. It also offers in-depth information on the most common kinds of headaches (tension, sinus, and migraine) and the treatment strategies that work best for each. Although some form of head pain will occasionally visit most people, no one should have to live with it.

Last updated:	September 05, 2008