A headache is pain or discomfort in the head, scalp, or neck. Serious causes of headaches are extremely rare. Most people with headaches can feel much better by making lifestyle changes, learning ways to relax, and occasionally by taking medications.

Tension headaches are due to tight, contracted muscles in your shoulders, neck, scalp, and jaw. They are often related to stress, depression, or anxiety. Overworking, not getting enough sleep, missing meals, and using alcohol or street drugs can make you more susceptible to them. Headaches can be triggered by chocolate, cheese, and monosodium glutamate (MSG). People who drink caffeine can have headaches when they don't get their usual daily amount.

Other common causes include:

Holding your head in one position for a long time, like at a computer, microscope, or typewriter
Poor sleep position
Overexerting yourself
Clenching or grinding your teeth

Tension headaches tend to be on both sides of your head. They often start at the back of your head and spread forward. The pain may feel dull or squeezing, like a tight band or vice. Your shoulders, neck, or jaw may feel tight and sore.

Migraine headaches are severe, recurrent headaches generally accompanied by other symptoms like visual disturbances or nausea. They tend to begin on one side of your head, although the pain may spread to both sides. You may have an "aura" (warning symptoms that start before your headache) and feel throbbing, pounding, or pulsating pain.

Other types of headaches:

Cluster headaches are sharp, extremely painful headaches that tend to occur several times per day for months and then go away for a similar period. They are far less common.
Sinus headaches cause pain in the front of your head and face. They are due to inflammation in the sinus passages that lie behind the cheeks, nose, and eyes. The pain tends to be worse when you bend forward and when you first wake up in the morning. Postnasal drip, sore throat, and nasal discharge usually occur with these headaches.

Headaches may occur if you have a cold, the flu, fever, or premenstrual syndrome.

If you are over age 50 and are experiencing headaches for the first time, a condition called temporal arteritis may prove to be the cause. Symptoms of this condition include impaired vision and pain aggravated by chewing. There is a risk of becoming blind with this condition. Therefore, your doctor must treat it right away.

Headaches are one of common pain health problems that affect not just adults but also children. Headaches may be felt along with other symptoms like sinus problem, running colds or sore throat.

Most Common Types of Headaches:

Migraine Headache affects more women than men and most of migraine sufferers have experience it since they are in teens.
Cluster headache
Tension headache common cause of tension headache is stress or emotional problems. This is usually common in adults.

Headaches Common Causes

Some common causes of headaches are:

Flu
Lack of sleep
Drinking alcohol
Eyestrain
Jaw clenching
Allergy
Poor eating habits
Muscle injury
Stress
Hormonal imbalance
Medicines
Too much alcohol
Caffeine
Muscle strain
Upper respiratory infection
Eye strain Fever

Headaches with complications

There are times that headaches may be a sign of serious complications. If your headaches also comes with dizziness, vomiting or changes in vision, you may have other complications like a head injury, brain injury, skull fracture or bleeding in your brain.

Other complications may also be brain tumor, brain infection, stroke or even aneurysm.

If your headache is severe and you feel other symptoms, go immediately to the nearest hospital for immediate medical attention.

Emergency Cases*

Your headache may be an emergency case if it is accompanied with the following:

Sudden and severe pain
Confusion
Numbness in one part of the body
Difficulty speaking
Dehydration
Seizure
Loss of vision