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These headaches are caused by tense muscles around the head and neck, often due to stress, anxiety or depression. Tension headaches may also be triggered by:��

Symptoms of Tension Headaches

Tension headaches typically feel like dull pressure around the head. You may also feel muscle tightness in your head or neck.����

The pain is usually mild to moderate and is not accompanied by other symptoms. Tension headaches can last from half an hour to a week.��

Treating and Preventing Tension Headaches

Occasional tension headaches can often be prevented by:����

Chronic tension-type headaches are typically treated with stress reduction techniques such as meditation or cognitive behavioral therapy and .����

Over-the-counter pain medications (e.g., ibuprofen or acetaminophen) may be used to decrease pain. Muscle relaxers or prescription antidepressants may also be recommended in some cases.��

Migraines

While tension headaches are the most common, they’re not what drive people to see a healthcare provider.��

“Although tension-type headaches are the most common headache disorder and about 70% to 80% of people will experience them, they’re generally less debilitating,” Dr. Broner says. “Migraine is really the most common headache disorder that I see in my practice.”��

Migraines are a severe, recurring type of headache that is often debilitating. About 12% of people in the United States have migraines and they are more common in women.��

Causes of Migraines

The exact cause of migraines is unknown. But researchers believe that genetics plays a part. Having certain medical conditions may increase your risk of developing migraines, including:��

Migraines can be triggered by several factors. Caffeine is one of the more common triggers people encounter. [Text Wrapping Break] “Caffeine is always a mystery to people because many people find that it helps a headache,” Dr. Broner says, “but some data suggests that drinking more than eight ounces a day of caffeine, whether it's coffee or tea or sodas can increase your risk of having more frequent migraines.”��

Other common migraine triggers include:��

Certain foods, drinks and ingredients may also trigger migraines in some people, especially if other triggers are present at the same time. Some of these triggers are:��

Symptoms of Migraines

Migraines have four phases: prodrome, aura, headache and postdrome. Each phase features different symptoms. However, not everyone goes through every phase during each migraine.��

Prodrome is the first phase of a migraine. It starts up to 24 hours before other migraine symptoms. This phase may cause:��

The second phase of a migraine is an aura. It happens just before or during the headache phase of a migraine. You may see bright or flashing lights or zig-zag lines during this phase. You also may feel like you are being grabbed or touched or have muscle weakness.��

The headache phase often begins slowly and worsens over time. A migraine headache feels like pulsing or throbbing pain and may be very severe. Typically, your pain will be on one side of your head. With a migraine, you might also experience:��

Postdrome follows the migraine phase. It may last for a day, and you may feel weak, confused or exhausted.����

Migraines are more likely to occur in the morning—it is common to wake up with a migraine. Some people have a predictable pattern of migraines, such as just before a menstrual period. Other people may have trouble recognizing a pattern to figure out what triggers their migraines.��

Migraine Treatments and Prevention

There is no cure for migraines, but there are steps you can take to help relieve symptoms.��

Over-the-counter triptans and pain relievers may help relieve symptoms. Medication is most effective when taken as early as possible during a migraine.����

It may also help to:��

Lifestyle changes like exercising regularly, eating a balanced diet, having a regular sleep schedule and taking steps to manage daily stress are often helpful in preventing or decreasing the frequency of migraines.����

“Migraines are something that we don’t cure, but we can manage,” Dr. Broner says. “For some people, lifestyle factors make a big difference. Those lifestyle factors include things like hydration, limiting caffeine, [and managing blood sugar by] eating balanced meals with protein, veggies and whole grains, not skipping meals, and keeping healthy snacks on hand. Also, stress is a big factor.”��

If you have frequent migraines, you may benefit from prescription blood pressure, anti-seizure or antidepressant medications. Botox injections have also been shown to help prevent migraines.����

Some alternative therapies may also help prevent migraines, including:��

Cluster Headache Symptoms

Cluster headaches start as sudden, severe headaches on one side of the head. You may also have a stuffy nose, drooping eyelid, a watery eye, swelling or redness on the same side as the pain.����

The pain typically feels like a burning or sharp pain on the side of the face. Pain often peaks within the first 10 minutes and lasts for up to two hours.����

Cluster headaches typically start within two to three hours of falling asleep but may also happen while awake.��