No one wants to be stuck with a headache any longer than necessary - they are annoying, uncomfortable, and some of them are just downright painful. Whether you suffer from a migraine or a tension headache, there are several treatment options available to help you get rid of the pain.

Symptoms and Triggers of Headaches

Migraines cause the kind of excruciating pain that can render you helpless. These headaches can also cause blurred vision, sensitivity to light, nausea, vomiting, sensitivity to sound, and cold hands and feet. Migraines can strike anyone, but women and people over the age of forty a more likely to suffer from them.

There are number of things that can trigger the onset of migraines. Some of them include MSG, red wine, beer, hormonal changes, smells, obesity, stress, loud noises, lack of sleep, and bright lights.

Tension headaches are brought on by built up stress from things that happen in everyday life. These headaches are not as severe as migraines. They cause an uncomfortable throbbing sensation, and mild to moderate pain in the head. Tension headaches can also be accompanied by stiffness in the neck.

How to Treat Headaches

If migraine headaches are caught before they start, they are sometimes responsive to over the counter pain medications. Severe headaches are not as easy to treat. When migraine headaches can't be managed at home, abortive medications are typically prescribed by a doctor to stop migraine headaches shortly after they start.

Lying in a dark room with a cold compress on your head will also help ease the pain of a migraine headache.

Unlike migraines, tension headaches are very responsive to over the counter pain relievers such as ibuprofen, acetaminophen, naproxen, and aspirin. To prevent undesirable side effects, always follow the recommended dosage amount listed on the label.

Avoid prolonged use of over the counter meds. Overusing these types of medicines can cause headaches to become more frequent.

Natural treatment methods such as massage therapy, and aromatherapy can also be used to successfully treat common tension headaches. Massage loosens knotted muscles, and relieves the stress that triggers tension headaches. And aromatherapy scents such as basil, eucalyptus, peppermint, and sandalwood have the ability to soothe and relax.

Rub the aromatherapy oil on the temple of the head and put some in an aromatherapy burner to fill the room with the relaxing scent.

How to Prevent Headaches

Keep a headache journal to write down everything that happens right before your headaches occur. Doing this will help you identify patterns, and over time, enable you to avoid the things that trigger your headaches.

Stress management techniques such as massage therapy, exercising regularly, getting enough rest, and eating properly can prevent the onset of both tension and migraine headaches.

If you suffer from frequent migraine headaches, your doctor can prescribe medications that can be taken on a daily basis to prevent migraines from attacking.

Very rarely, headaches can be caused by serious conditions such as brain bleeding, meningitis, and tumors. So if your headaches are persistent and severe, see a doctor.

Don't let a headache interfere with your ability to be productive throughout the day. Both migraines and tension headaches can be effectively managed with medications as well as natural methods.

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