Keep a headache diary to help identify the source or trigger of your symptoms. Then modify your environment or habits to avoid future headaches. When a headache occurs, write down the date and time the headache began, what you ate for the past 24 hours, how long you slept the night before, what you were doing and thinking about just before the headache started, any stress in your life, how long the headache lasts, and what you did to make it stop. After a period of time, you may begin to see a pattern.

A headache may be relieved by resting with your eyes closed and head supported. Relaxation techniques can help. A massage or heat applied to the back of the upper neck can be effective in relieving tension headaches.

Try acetaminophen, aspirin, or ibuprofen for tension headaches. DO NOT give aspirin to children because of the risk of Reye syndrome.

Migraine headaches may respond to aspirin, naproxen, or combination migraine medications.

If over-the-counter remedies do not control your pain, talk to your doctor about possible prescription medications.

Prescription medications used for migraine headaches include ergotamine, dihydroergotamine, ergotamine with caffeine (Cafergot), isometheptene (Midrin), and triptans like sumatriptan (Imitrex), rizatriptan (Maxalt), eletriptan (Relpax), almotriptan (Axert), and zolmitriptan (Zomig). Sometimes medications to relieve nausea and vomiting are helpful for other migraine symptoms.

If you get headaches often, your doctor may prescribe medication to prevent headaches before they occur. Examples of these include:

Antidepressants such as nortriptyline (Pamelor), amitriptyline (Elavil), fluoxetine (Prozac, Sarafem), sertraline (Zoloft), or paroxetine (Paxil) for tension or migraine headache
Beta-blockers such as propranolol (Inderal) for frequent migraine headaches
Calcium channel blockers such as verapamil for frequent migraine headaches
Anti-epileptic medicines such as topiramate (Topamax)

If you are using pain medications more than 2 days a week, you may be suffering from rebound headaches. Rebound headaches are caused by a cycle of using pain medications for short-term relief, followed by the headache pain returning for increasingly longer periods of time despite taking more pain medications.

All types of pain pills (including over-the-counter drugs), muscle relaxants, some decongestants, and caffeine can cause this pattern. If you think this may be a problem for you, talk to your health care provider.

The following healthy habits can lessen stress and reduce your chance of getting headaches:

Getting adequate sleep
Eating a healthy diet
Exercising regularly
Stretching your neck and upper body, especially if your work involves typing or using a computer
Learning proper posture
Quitting smoking
Learning to relax using meditation, deep breathing, yoga, or other techniques

Headache causes varies from one case to another. Before you pop a pill, it is better that you know what the cause of your headache is so you will know what is the best headache relief you can get to address the pain.

Headaches Common Causes:

Flu
Lack of sleep
Drinking alcohol
Eyestrain
Jaw clenching
Allergy
Poor eating habits
Muscle injury
Stress
Hormonal imbalance

Food Factor in Headache Relief

Eating regularly the right foods is one way to maintain the balance of energy in the body. Proper eating can maintain the supply of the flow of energy to the head thus avoiding headache.

During headache attack you may eat the following to have headaches relief:

green tea
carrots
ginger
whole grains
fiber-rich foods
prunes
mint
onions
pearl barley
green leafy
buckwheat

If you want to have headache relief through foods, you have to stay away from preservatives, alcohol, nitrates, sulfites, caffeine, MSG, oily foods and chocolates.

Likewise, foods that are spicy, heavy starchy and stimulating foods should be avoided.

And if you have headache, make sure you avoid eating under stress, or if you are on the go as this might add more negative effects on your headache.