If you're familiar with the pounding, throbbing and aching sensations of a headache that keeps coming back, you're not alone. Headaches are very common and very real. Discovery Health's Headaches Information Index provides you with headache information so you can prevent and treat your headaches. Read through the list of articles on this Headaches Information Index and find headache information that ranges from lifestyle changes to headache triggers.

By working through the Headache Center, you are taking an important step toward taking control of your headaches. That's because the more you know about headaches, the more you can tell your doctor about yours. The more information you can provide about your headaches and what triggers them, the easier it is to get a proper diagnosis and to find treatments that work for you. Also, you'll find there are many steps you can take on your own to both prevent and relieve your headache pain.

A Quick Overview
What is Happening to Me?
What Causes Headaches?
What Triggers a Headache?
What Are the Common Symptoms of Headaches?
What Are the Different Types of Headaches?
How Can I Be Sure I Have a Headache Disorder?
How Much Will Treatment Help Me?
What Are My Treatment Options?
What Kind of Healthcare Professionals Do I Need?
What Do I Need to Know About Preventive Medications?
What Do I Need to Know About Medications to Manage Symptoms?
What Do I Need to Know About Alternative and Complementary Therapies?
How Long Will I Need Treatment?
What Do I Need to Do?
What Can I Do to Prevent Symptoms?
Can Changing My Lifestyle Help Me?
What Do I Need to Keep Track Of?
What Should I Do When Symptoms Get Worse?
How Can I Make It Easier to Stick With My Treatment?

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A Quick Overview

What is Happening to Me When I Have Headaches?
Should I See a Doctor About Headaches?
What Do Headaches Feel Like?
How Common Are Headaches?

What Causes Headaches?
What Causes Migraine Headaches?
What Causes Tension Type Headaches?
What Causes Cluster Headaches?
What Causes Rebound Headaches?

What Triggers a Headache?
How Might the Environment Trigger My Migraines?
Could Food Trigger My Migraines?
Could Caffeine Trigger My Migraines?
Could Chocolate Cause My Migraines?
Could Alcohol Cause My Headaches?
Could Food Additives Cause My Migraines?
Could Foods With Tyramine Cause My Migraines?
Could Hormones Cause My Migraines?

What Are the Common Symptoms of Headaches?

What Are the Different Types of Headaches?
What Are Migraines With Aura?
What Is a Migraine Without Aura?
What Are Hormone-Related Migraines?
What Are Tension Type Headaches?
What Are Cluster Headaches?
What Are Rebound Headaches?

How Can I Be Sure I Have a Headache Disorder?
What Should I Tell the Doctor About My Headache Symptoms?
What Should I Tell the Doctor About Headaches and My Medical History?
Could My Other Health Problems Be Causing My Headaches?
Could the Drugs I Use Cause Headaches?
What Should I Tell the Doctor About Headaches and My Family's Medical History?
What Is My Doctor Looking for With a Physical Exam?
What Diagnostic Tests Might I Need for Headaches?
Blood Tests
EEG or Electroencephalograph
Magnetic Resonance Imaging, or MRI, and Computerized Tomography, or CT, Scans
Lumbar Puncture (LP), or Spinal Tap

How Much Will Headache Treatment Help Me?
How Will I Know If Headache Treatment Is Working?

What Options Do I Have for Headache Treatment and How Do I Choose?
Are Headache Medications for Me?
Are Alternative or Complementary Headache Therapies for Me?

What Kind of Healthcare Professionals Do I Need for Headaches?

What Do I Need to Know About Preventive Headache Medications?
How Do I Use Preventive Medications Safely?
How Does Preventive Headache Medication Work?
What Should I Do for Side Effects?
What Should I Know About the Specific Type of Preventive Headache Medication I'm Taking?
What Should I Know About Beta-Blockers?
What Should I Know About Calcium Channel Blockers?
What Should I Know About Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs)?
What Should I Know About Tricyclic Antidepressants (TCAs)?
What Should I Know About Selective Serotonin-Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs)?
What Should I Know About Other Antidepressants?
What Should I Know About Anticonvulsants?
What Should I Know About Methysergide?
What Should I Know About Methylergonavine?
What Do I Need to Know About Lithium?

What Do I Need to Know About Medications to Manage Headache Symptoms?
How Do I Safely Use Medications to Manage Symptoms?
How Do Medications to Manage Symptoms Work?
What Should I Do for Side Effects?
What Is the Specific Type of Symptom-Relief Medication I'm Taking?
What Should I Know About Analgesics?
What Should I Know About Barbiturate Combinations?
What Should I Know About Ergot Alkaloids?
What Should I Know About Narcotic Analgesics?
What Should I Know About Triptans?
What Should I Know About Isometheptene Agents?

What Do I Need to Know About Alternative and Complementary Headache Therapies?

How Long Will I Need Headache Treatment?

What Do I Need to Do If I Have Headaches?

What Can I Do to Prevent Headache Symptoms?
How Can I Avoid Headache Triggers?
What Can I Do to Ease Headache Symptoms?

Can Changing My Lifestyle Help My Headaches?
Will Exercise Help Me Control My Headaches?
Will Changing My Diet Affect My Headaches?
How Do My Sleep and Rest Patterns Affect My Headaches?
Does the Way I Respond to Stress Have an Effect on My Headaches?

What Do I Need to Keep Track of to Manage My Headaches?
Why Do I Need to Keep Track of My Headache Symptoms and Triggers and How Can I Do It?

What Should I Do When Headache Symptoms Get Worse?
What Can I Do If My Headaches Don't Seem to Be Getting Better?

How Can I Make It Easier to Stick With My Headache Treatment?
How Can I Get the Support I Need to Control My Headaches?