Most headaches are not serious and can be relieved with self-care. But some headaches may be a sign of another health problem like eye trouble or high blood pressure. To find the best treatment, learn what kind of headaches you get. For tension headaches, self-care will usually help. To treat migraines, ask your doctor for advice. It is also possible to get both tension and migraine headaches. Self-care involves relieving the pain and avoiding whatever "triggers" your headaches.

Relax tense muscles

• calm your emotions by imagining a peaceful scene
• massage tight neck, shoulder, and head muscles
• apply pressure to the base of the skull behind your ears.

Use heat and cold

• place a cool cloth on your forehead
• place an ice pack on the back of your neck
• soak in a hot bath or use a hot shower.

Use medications

• Aspirin or aspirin substitutes, such as ibuprofen and paracetamol (acetaminophen), can relieve headache. Remember: never give aspirin to children because aspirin use by children is associated with Reye's syndrome (a rare but very dangerous condition that can be fatal).

Track your headaches

Keeping a headache diary can help you and your doctor identify what's causing your headaches.

• note when each headache occurs
• identify your activities and the foods you've eaten six to eight hours before the headache began
• look for any trends or "triggers" and avoid them.

Signs of tension headache

• the pain feels like a tight band around your head
• pain in your neck or shoulders
• you clench your jaws or grind teeth
• you get the headache after an activity like driving or working on a computer.

Signs of migraine

• pounding pain in your head
• the pain is on one side of your head
• you see bright spots or flashes
• nausea or vomiting
• headaches at the same time each week or month, after specific events, or after eating certain foods
• the pain is so severe, you can't continue your daily activities.

Also, see our everybody topic on migraine.

Call your doctor if you have:

• a headache that lingers after a recent injury or bump to the head
• a fever with a stiff neck or pain when you bend your head towards your chest (also, see our everybody topic on meningitis)
• a headache along with slurred speech, changes in your vision, or numbness or weakness in your arms or legs (also, see our everybody topic on stroke)
• a headache for longer than three days
• headaches often, especially in the morning.

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