Headaches are one of the most common reasons people miss work or school and visit doctors. Thankfully, most headaches aren’t dangerous. However, some are a sign of a more serious condition and need to be treated promptly.

Different Reasons for Headache

There are more than 150 types of headache, ranging from simple tension or migraines to severe chronic daily headaches. Some of these are caused by illnesses, and others can be triggered by food or other triggers.

Some of these can be hard to treat. That’s why it’s important to identify your headache triggers so you can avoid them or get help if they do occur.

Migraine headaches are intense throbbing pain that can last hours or days. They often start in the middle of the day, and may be accompanied by nausea or sensitivity to light and sound.

They are most common in women. But they are also found in men and children, with the risk increasing when both parents have a history of migraines.

A person’s lifestyle, diet, stress and medications can all contribute to headaches. Certain foods and ingredients can trigger them, so it’s important to keep a diary of what you eat and drink.

Many headaches are caused by a condition that affects the nose, throat or ears. Conditions such as sinus infection and allergies cause your sinuses to swell, causing you to experience pressure in your head. This pressure can also cause ear pain, which can result in a pounding or aching headache.

Sinus infections can be painful, but they usually clear up after a few weeks or months of treatment. If your symptoms don’t improve, you may need to see an ear, nose and throat specialist.

The doctor can take a detailed history of your headaches, along with your family medical history. Then he or she can diagnose what type of headache you have and suggest possible treatments.

You may have a blood test or other tests to look for diseases or conditions that might be causing your headaches. Some of these tests include a thyroid function test, blood chemistry tests, and a bone density test to rule out osteoporosis, which can cause headaches.

Your physician can prescribe medicine that can relieve headaches and prevent them from occurring again. These medicines, like acetaminophen, ibuprofen and aspirin, can be purchased at drug stores under various brand names.

These headache medicines can help to reduce the severity and frequency of your attacks, but they need to be taken every day to be effective. They may take up to 6 weeks to begin working, so it’s important to keep taking them.

Other medicines that may be used for headaches include corticosteroids and narcotic pain medications. These medicines are given as injections or tablets and have to be taken as prescribed.

Another headache medicine that your doctor might suggest is a nasal spray called a decongestant. It works by loosening congestion in the nose and reducing inflammation.

A cluster headache is a rare headache that starts suddenly and occurs once or twice a day for weeks or months. It’s not known why this happens, but it can happen during times when you are particularly susceptible to it, such as adolescence or pregnancy.