Managing Headache Pain

By Dr. Brian McDonough, Medical Editor

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - Headaches are extremely common: many, if not most of us, have suffered from the pain of headache.

Far and away, the most common headache is called the stress headache. So, what causes these stress, or tension, headaches?

Research tells us there is not one cause. Causes include stress, skipping meals, irregular sleep habits or certain foods.

One of the first things many people do after suffering a headache is to reach for a pain reliever in the medicine cabinet. But there are other simple things you can do like lie down in a dark and quiet room and try to sleep.

And, there is a very important additional point - sometimes pain relievers can lead to headaches and contribute to the cause.