Information on Headaches

What you need to know

Headaches can appear from out of the blue. One minute you may feel fine, the next your head’s thumping. But what causes headaches? How can you avoid them? And what can you do to ease your headache when it starts? You’ll find everything you need to know right here:

What is a headache?

A headache is usually caused by arteries and blood vessels in the brain dilating. There are different kinds of headaches, the most common being

mild and niggly aches
tension headaches
migraines

What causes them?

People get headaches for all sorts of different reasons. Some of the most common trigger factors include:

Poor posture
Strong odours
Fatigue
Changes in the weather
Stress
Depression and anxiety
Menstrual periods
Dehydration

How can you help prevent headaches?

First of all you need to discover what your personal headache triggers are. To do this, you could start a daily headache diary. Take it with you wherever you go and write down the things you do, the people you meet, what you drink or eat, and what time of the day your headache develops.

After a while you should be able to pinpoint the possible causes of your headaches. Once you know your triggers, you can take steps to avoid them. Some other ways to help prevent headaches include:

Using breathing and relaxation techniques if you’re feeling stressed out
Keeping fit by exercising 3 times a week
Making sure you get 8 hours sleep a night
Taking regular 5 minute breaks and getting plenty of fresh air if you’re working at a computer all day
Avoiding excessive alcohol or tobacco
Drink plenty of fluids

And of course if you carry an effective painkiller with you you can get the pain relief you need, as soon as you need it.

Is your headache just a headache?

Most headaches are not a sign of something more serious. But do speak to a doctor if your headache is:

A result of a blow to the head
Followed by pain in the eye or ear
Accompanied by a fever, behavioural changes, memory changes, seizure, loss of consciousness, a stiff neck, drowsiness, vomiting or a rash
Sudden and severe

For more information, please contact: NHS Direct or The Migraine Trust.

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All information presented on these web pages is not meant to diagnose or prescribe. In all health matters please contact your doctor.

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