Oh my aching head! Nearly everyone has had a headache. The most common type of headache is a tension headache. Tension headaches are due to tight muscles in your shoulders, neck, scalp and jaw. They are often related to stress, depression or anxiety. You are more likely to get tension headaches if you work too much, don't get enough sleep, miss meals or use alcohol.
Other common types of headaches include migraines, cluster headaches and sinus headaches. Most people can feel much better by making lifestyle changes, learning ways to relax and taking pain relievers.
Headaches can have many causes, but serious causes of headaches are rare. Sometimes headaches warn of a more serious disorder. Let your health care provider know if you have sudden, severe headaches. Get medical help right away if you have a headache after a blow to your head, or if you have a headache along with a stiff neck, fever, confusion, loss of consciousness or pain in the eye or ear.
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
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Headache: Hope through Research
(National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke) - http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/headache/detail_headache.htm
- Headaches(American Academy of Family Physicians) - http://familydoctor.org/online/famdocen/home/tools/symptom/502.printerview.html
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JAMA Patient Page: Headaches(American Medical Association) - http://jama.ama-assn.org/cgi/reprint/295/19/2320.pdf
Also available in Spanish http://jama.ama-assn.org/cgi/data/295/19/2320/DC1/1
- Headache(American College of Physicians) - http://www.acponline.org/patients_families/diseases_conditions/headaches/
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Headache(National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke) - Short Summary - http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/headache/headache.htm
- Many Combat Vets Suffer Severe Headaches Upon Return(02/23/2009, HealthDay) - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/news/fullstory_80934.html
- Using Sleep to Manage Headaches May Cause Insomnia(02/16/2009, HealthDay) - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/news/fullstory_80514.html
- Headaches(American Academy of Family Physicians) - http://familydoctor.org/online/famdocen/home/tools/symptom/502.printerview.html
- Headaches: Treatment Depends on Your Symptoms(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) - http://www.mayoclinic.com/print/headaches/HE00001/METHOD=print
- Cluster Headache Injection and Surgical Therapy(National Pain Foundation) - http://www.nationalpainfoundation.org/MyTreatment/articles/Headache_TO_Surgery.asp
- Headache Pain Medications(National Pain Foundation) - http://www.nationalpainfoundation.org/MyTreatment/articles/Headache_TO_Medications.asp
- Headaches: Reduce Stress to Prevent the Pain(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) - http://www.mayoclinic.com/print/headaches/HE00002/METHOD=print
- Complementary Therapies for Headache Pain(National Pain Foundation) - http://www.nationalpainfoundation.org/MyTreatment/articles/Headache_TO_Complimentary.asp
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Diet and Headache(National Headache Foundation) - http://www.headaches.org/education/Headache_Topic_Sheets/Diet_and_Headache_-_Foods
Also available in Spanish http://www.headaches.org/education/Spanish_Topics/La_Dieta_Y_Los_Dolores_de_Cabeza
- Low Tyramine Headache Diet(National Headache Foundation) - Links to PDF - http://www.headaches.org/pdf/Diet.pdf
- Headache Diaries(American Headache Society, Committee on Headache Education) - http://www.achenet.org/tools/diaries/index.asp
- Headaches: Self-Care Measures for Headache Relief(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) - http://www.mayoclinic.com/print/headaches/HE00006/METHOD=print
- Chronic Daily Headaches(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) - http://www.mayoclinic.com/print/chronic-daily-headaches/DS00646/DSECTION=all&METHOD=print
- Cluster Headache(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) - http://www.mayoclinic.com/print/cluster-headache/DS00487/DSECTION=all&METHOD=print
- Coexisting Migraine and Tension-Type Headaches(National Headache Foundation) - http://www.headaches.org/education/Headache_Topic_Sheets/Coexisting_Migraine_and_Tension-Type_Headaches
- Cough Headaches(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) - http://www.mayoclinic.com/print/primary-cough-headaches/DS00639/DSECTION=all&METHOD=print
- Exercise Headaches(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) - http://www.mayoclinic.com/print/exercise-headaches/DS00641/DSECTION=all&METHOD=print
- External Compression Headaches(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) - http://www.mayoclinic.com/print/external-compression-headaches/DS00642/DSECTION=all&METHOD=print
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Hemicrania Continua(National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke) - Short Summary - http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/hemicrania_continua/hemicrania_continua.htm
- Ice Cream Headaches(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) - http://www.mayoclinic.com/print/ice-cream-headaches/DS00640/DSECTION=all&METHOD=print
- Nighttime Headaches: What Are the Causes?(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) - http://www.mayoclinic.com/print/nighttime-headaches/AN00992/METHOD=print
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Occipital Neuralgia(National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke) - Short Summary - http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/occipitalneuralgia/occipitalneuralgia.htm
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Paroxysmal Hemicrania(National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke) - Short Summary - http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/paroxysmal_hemicrania/paroxysmal_hemicrania.htm
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Post-Traumatic Headache(National Headache Foundation) - http://www.headaches.org/education/Headache_Topic_Sheets/Post_Traumatic_Headache
Also available in Spanish http://www.headaches.org/education/Spanish_Topics/El_Dolor_de_Cabeza_Post-Traumatico
- Rebound Headaches(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) - http://www.mayoclinic.com/print/rebound-headaches/DS00613/DSECTION=all&METHOD=print
- Secondary Headaches(American Headache Society, Committee on Headache Education) - http://www.achenet.org/education/patients/SecondaryHeadaches.asp
- Sex Headaches(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) - http://www.mayoclinic.com/print/sex-headaches/DS00645/DSECTION=all&METHOD=print
- Sinus Headaches(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) - http://www.mayoclinic.com/print/sinus-headaches/DS00647/DSECTION=all&METHOD=print
- Spinal Headaches(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) - http://www.mayoclinic.com/print/spinal-headaches/DS00643/DSECTION=all&METHOD=print
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SUNCT Headache (Short-Lasting, Unilateral, Neuralgiform with Conjunctival Injection and Tearing)(National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke) - Short Summary - http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/sunct/sunct.htm
- Tension Headache(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) - http://www.mayoclinic.com/print/tension-headache/DS00304/DSECTION=all&METHOD=print
- Thunderclap Headaches(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) - http://www.mayoclinic.com/print/thunderclap-headaches/DS00644/DSECTION=all&METHOD=print
- Weekend Headache(National Headache Foundation) - http://www.headaches.org/education/Headache_Topic_Sheets/Weekend_Headache
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Allergy and Headache(National Headache Foundation) - http://www.headaches.org/education/Headache_Topic_Sheets/Allergy_and_Headaches
Also available in Spanish http://www.headaches.org/education/Spanish_Topics/La_Alergia_Y_El_Dolor_de_Cabeza
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Depression and Headaches(National Headache Foundation) - http://www.headaches.org/education/Headache_Topic_Sheets/Depression_and_Headache
Also available in Spanish http://www.headaches.org/education/Spanish_Topics/La_Depresion_Y_El_Dolor_de_Cabeza
- Headache Versus Migraine(American Pain Foundation) - http://www.painfoundation.org/page.asp?menu=1&item=3&file=QandA/Headache.htm
- Psychology of Pain - Headaches(National Pain Foundation) - http://www.nationalpainfoundation.org/MyTreatment/articles/Headache_TO_Psychology.asp
- Tips for Headache Free Travel(National Headache Foundation) - http://www.headaches.org/press/NHF_Press_Releases/2007-02-Tips_For_Headache_Free_Travel
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TMJ - Another Cause of Headache and Facial Pain(National Headache Foundation) - http://www.headaches.org/education/Headache_Topic_Sheets/TMJ
Also available in Spanish http://www.headaches.org/education/Spanish_Topics/Cabeza
- Headache(DSHI Systems) - http://www.freemd.com/headache/visit-virtual-doctor.htm
- Recurrent Headaches(DSHI Systems) - http://www.freemd.com/recurrent-headaches/visit-virtual-doctor.htm
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ClinicalTrials.gov: Cluster Headache(National Institutes of Health) - http://clinicaltrials.gov/search/open/condition=%22Cluster+Headache%22
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ClinicalTrials.gov: Headache(National Institutes of Health) - http://clinicaltrials.gov/search/open/condition=%22Headache%22
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ClinicalTrials.gov: Headache Disorders(National Institutes of Health) - http://clinicaltrials.gov/search/open/condition=%22Headache+Disorders%22
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ClinicalTrials.gov: Tension Headache(National Institutes of Health) - http://clinicaltrials.gov/search/open/condition=%22Tension+Headache%22
- ClinicalTrials.gov: Tension-Type Headache(National Institutes of Health) - http://clinicaltrials.gov/search/open/condition=%22Tension-Type+Headache%22
References and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)
- Article: Phenotype-driven preventive strategies for migraine and other headaches. - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=19276783&tool=MedlinePlus
- Article: Medication overuse headache. - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=19268034&tool=MedlinePlus
- Article: Reversible cerebral vasoconstriction syndrome: a thunderclap headache-associated condition. - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=19268033&tool=MedlinePlus
- Headache -- see more articles - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=search&db=pubmed&term=headache[majr]+OR+(headache+disorders[majr]+NOT+migraine+disorders[majr])+AND+english[la]+AND+humans[mh]+AND+(review[pt]+OR+guideline[pt]+OR+clinical+trial[pt]+OR+jsubsetk[text]+OR+patient+education+handout[pt])+NOT+(letter[pt]+OR+editorial[pt]+OR+case+reports[pt])&doptcmdl=summary&cmd_current=Limits&pmfilter_EDatLimit=last+1+Year&tool=MedlinePlus
- Find a Healthcare Professional(American Headache Society, Committee on Headache Education) - http://www.achenet.org/resources/physician/
- American Headache Society, Committee on Headache Education - http://www.achenet.org/
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National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke - http://www.ninds.nih.gov/
Also available in Spanish http://espanol.ninds.nih.gov/
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Headaches(Nemours Foundation) - http://kidshealth.org/parent/general/aches/headache.html
Also available in Spanish http://kidshealth.org/parent/en_espanol/general/headache_esp.html
- Headaches in Children(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) - http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/headaches-in-children/DS01132/METHOD=print
- Oooh, Your Aching Head!(Nemours Foundation) - http://kidshealth.org/kid/ill_injure/sick/headache.html
- Why Does Eating Ice Cream Give Me a Headache?(Nemours Foundation) - http://kidshealth.org/kid/talk/qa/ice_cream_headache.html
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Headaches(Nemours Foundation) - http://kidshealth.org/teen/diseases_conditions/brain_nervous/headaches.html
Also available in Spanish http://kidshealth.org/teen/en_espanol/enfermedades/headaches_esp.html
- Headaches and Hormones: What's the Connection?(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) - http://www.mayoclinic.com/print/headaches/HE00003/METHOD=print
- Migraine - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/migraine.html
- Brain and Nerves - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/brainandnerves.html
- Symptoms - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/symptoms.html
The primary NIH organization for research on Headache is the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke - http://www.ninds.nih.gov/
Headache - Multiple Languages - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/languages/headache.html