Headaches can be, well, a headache. For many people, relief can be difficult to find when they need it the most.

Dealing with discomfort begins with identifying the type and cause of the pain. This is essential for a few reasons.

First and foremost, safety. On rare occasions, pain in the head or neck region can be indicative of a more severe medical condition such as a stroke, heart attack or tumor. A physician should always be consulted when uncertainty is looming.

Secondly, the type and cause of headache needs to be determined in order to form a relief strategy. Headaches are not all created equally, and should not be treated with blanket remedies.

Types of headaches

The Mayo Clinic separates head pain into two categories, primary and secondary. A primary headache is “caused by overactivity of or problems with pain-sensitive structures in your head. A primary headache isn’t a symptom of an underlying disease.”

Headaches that are considered primary include migraines and tension. Other conditions that can cause head pain include lighting, noise, odors, fumes, head injuries,  and chemical reactions to foods, drinks or medications

Some of these conditions are easy to put to rest. For example, head pain caused by hunger will likely go away quickly with food consumption. Or, headache from a lack of caffeine is probably diminished with a cup of coffee.

Secondary headaches are “symptoms of disease that can activate the pain-sensitive nerves of the head. Any number of conditions — varying greatly in severity — may cause secondary headaches.” according to Mayo.

What causes headaches?

Once the type of headache has been identified, the causes must also be determined. For most of us, the cause will likely be stress or tension, as Healthline points out.

Tension headaches can have a wide variety of triggers including stress at home or work, Problems with a boss, or a relationship at home, or finances are the common culprits here.

Similar head pain can result from other lifestyle issues. For example, spending time in either too little or too much light, too much time on a computer or mobile device, or in proximity to loud music or other sounds. All can trigger pain in the head.

Excess alcohol often causes head pain as does too little or too much caffeine. For some, spicy foods can lead to pain. For others, a change in diet or medication might be the cause.

So, finding the cause is paramount to alleviating the pain. Treating the wrong causation will only prolong the discomfort.

Headache pain can occur anywhere in the head. It can present on either side, in the front or back, and can be described as splitting, crushing, pounding or piercing. Head pain can last anywhere from an hour to several days, depending on the nature and the treatment.

Finding fast relief

There are many possible ways to quickly eliminate a headache. The most popular way is to take over the counter (OTC) medications, as pointed out by Healthline. These products are usually very helpful and bring the fast relief that is needed. However, the Mayo Clinic is quick to warn of possible side-effects that could accompany OTC medications, especially if one is using them on a regular basis. Most people use ibuprofen or aspirin when self-medicating for head pain.

If the head pain seems to be a result of something environmental, obvious changes need to take place immediately. A change of lighting or a reduction of noise may be the simple answer.

For more severe headaches, a change of space may be in order. As Webmd states “People who have tension headaches may also feel overly sensitive to either light or sound. Rest or sit in a dimly lit room. Close your eyes and try to relax your back, neck, and shoulders.”

With stress headaches, many are the result of tightness in the neck and upper back muscles. In those cases, a hot shower is often quite helpful in reducing pain. Conversely, sometimes ice can be used to lower inflammation that often is associated with tight muscles.

Some people take it a step further and have massage work done. The process can be tremendously effective in eliminating both neck and head pain.

And, once again, as simple as it sounds, quite often, the answer could be as simple as having a cup of coffee, eating some protein, or getting some needed sleep.

Conclusion

Headaches can be not only bothersome, but they can be debilitating. They can keep one from work, school or an important event. And so the ability to quickly find relief is very important for many of us. Luckily, the answers are there to be found.