In most instances, head pain is unpleasant but isn’t something to worry about; it has less serious causes and is not accompanied by the red flags of secondary headaches (covered by the SNNOOP10 screening tool discussed above).
Stress or Tension-Type Headaches Respond to Self-Care
“Also called tension-type headaches, stress headaches often present with a bandlike sensation around the forehead that worsens as the day progresses,” says Jay Bhatt, MD, a neurologist with Indiana University Health North Hospital and an assistant professor of clinical neurology at Indiana University School of Medicine in Carmel.
Although the discomfort that stress headaches cause is very real, they are generally not serious, says Dr. Bhatt, adding that they “can be treated with a variety of lifestyle modifications or medications.” Aerobic exercise, biofeedback, relaxation training, and meditation are all possible ways to reduce stress and limit head pain from this type of headache.
Allergies Can Cause Headache
Headache or migraine can be a symptom of allergies if the sinuses become inflamed or infected as a result. Allergy-related headaches typically include a feeling of pressure in the forehead, face, or behind the eyes, along with typical allergy complaints such as sneezing, nasal congestion, and itching.
Treatment for allergy headaches may include over-the-counter medications for pain relief, along with treatment of the underlying allergy. Your doctor may recommend or prescribe an allergy drug and help you identify triggers to avoid, such as pollen, dust mites, pet dander, mold spores, certain foods, and other common allergens.
Migraine Attacks
Common migraine symptoms include:
In addition to migraine triggers, which can vary from person to person, hormonal factors can worsen migraine.
“Migraine usually improves after the menopause transition; about 70 percent of women stop having migraine at this time,” says MaryAnn Mays, MD, a neurologist and headache specialist at Cleveland Clinic in Ohio.
But perimenopause can be a very difficult time because hormones are changing and fluctuating so much, adds Dr. Mays. Perimenopause is the period of years when a woman’s body is transitioning to menopause.
Migraine attacks can be triggered by changes in estrogen levels, and estrogen dips around the time that a woman starts her monthly period, according to Nada Hindiyeh, MD, a neurologist and headache specialist with the Metrodora Institute in West Valley City, Utah.
“They can be pretty severe, they can last several days, and they can be quite debilitating,” says Dr. Hindiyeh.
Smoking Can Lead to Headache or Migraine
Nicotine changes the blood vessels in the brain, and cigarette smoke can irritate the nerves in the nose and throat — both of which can lead to migraine attacks or headaches.
Some people complain of headaches while they’re trying to kick the habit, but nicotine gum usually helps, says Ricardo Jorge Komotar, MD, a professor of clinical neurosurgery at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine and the director of surgical neuro-oncology at the University of Miami Hospital.
The health benefits of quitting smoking still clearly outweigh this possible discomfort.
Too Much Pain Medication Can Cause Headaches
The best treatment for this type of headache is to stop taking the frequently used medication. People who develop MOH should work with their doctor to identify bridge therapy and lifestyle modifications to help with pain relief while they stop the medication and determine how to move forward.
Both Caffeine and Caffeine Withdrawal Can Lead to Head Pain
The relationship between caffeine and headaches can be complicated. Some people drink a cup of coffee or take medication with caffeine to help with a headache, but for others, the stimulant can trigger an attack.
“Caffeine use is a common trigger for headaches and for caffeine withdrawal headaches,” notes Bhatt. “These are often severe, continuous headaches that don’t improve with heavy-duty pain medications but dramatically respond to reinstitution of caffeine use.”
If you are prone to caffeine-withdrawal headaches, talk with your doctor about gradually weaning yourself off caffeine over a month to see whether headache pain decreases.