Treating A Headache

By Dr. Brian McDonough, Medical Editor

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - Tension headaches are the most common form of headache by a vast majority. The causes of tension headache are well documented and include stress, skipping meals, irregular sleep habits, and certain foods.

One of the first things many people do after suffering a headache is reach for a pain reliever in the medicine cabinet, but there are other simple things you can do. Lie down in a quiet room and try to sleep. Also try to figure out what led to the headache. There are many other factors such as change in vision, migraine headache, or a hormonal imbalance.

If you suffer from repeated headaches, make certain you have it evaluated. I think that's the key. You don't want to just suffer with pain. You want it to be evaluated. Take a careful look, and figure out what can be done for you.

One other quick point is that there are cases of people who have drug induced headaches. They become so dependent on these medications that they actually develop headaches as a result of the medication.