[{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2026\/07\/headache-types-triggers-treatments\/#Article","mainEntityOfPage":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2026\/07\/headache-types-triggers-treatments\/","headline":"How to Treat a Headache: Types, Triggers, and Simple Ways to Find Relief","name":"How to Treat a Headache: Types, Triggers, and Simple Ways to Find Relief","description":"Learn how different types of headaches feel and discover simple, everyday ways to manage discomfort, reduce triggers, and support lasting relief.","datePublished":"2026-07-16","dateModified":"2026-07-15","author":{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/www.upmc.com\/","name":"UPMC","url":"https:\/\/www.upmc.com\/","sameAs":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/upmc\/","parentOrganization":"UPMC"},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"UPMC HealthBeat","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/UPMC-HealthBeat-Logo.png","url":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/UPMC-HealthBeat-Logo.png","width":600,"height":60}},"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/GettyImages-2175724693-e1784136516214.jpg","url":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/GettyImages-2175724693-e1784136516214.jpg","height":866,"width":2000},"url":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2026\/07\/headache-types-triggers-treatments\/","about":["Family Health","Health Topics A-Z"],"wordCount":1496,"articleBody":"You’ve probably had a headache at least once in your life. More likely than not, you’ve had many.Headaches can occur for many different reasons, and they come in many different types. There are also many different ways to treat them.In this article, learn all about headaches, including:Common headache triggers.Types of headaches.Lifestyle habits for headache prevention.What Is A Headache?A headache is pain felt in any area of the head. Headaches are among the most common health complaints people experience. According to the World Health Organization, nearly every person will experience a headache in their lifetime.Most headaches aren\u2019t dangerous. They often stem from everyday triggers like:AlcoholBeing overtiredCertain foodsDehydrationBut in some cases, a headache can signal an underlying issue, such as an eye\u2011related problem.Headache pain can range from mild to severe. In some cases, headaches may cause other symptoms, such as nausea and noise or light sensitivity.When headaches occur frequently or regularly, providers consider them a disorder. Headache disorders can be either chronic or episodic:Chronic headaches \u2014 Last for many days at a time.Episodic headaches \u2014 Happen repeatedly.Headache disorders are relatively common. About 1 in 20 adults worldwide experiences a headache nearly every day.Because they’re so common, headaches are often considered trivial or minor health issues. However, recurrent headaches can greatly interfere with your quality of life. They can affect your family, work, and social life.If you are experiencing episodic or chronic headaches that affect your daily life, you should talk to your doctor.What Are the Different Types of Headaches?There are three types of headaches: primary, secondary, and neuropathy, facial pain, or other headaches.Primary headachesPrimary headaches are headaches that occur on their own. They include:Tension-type headachesThe most common type of headache, tension headaches affect an estimated third of all men and more than half of all women.A feeling of \u201ctension\u201d categorizes these headaches. The muscles of your face, scalp, jaw, or neck contract, causing a mild to moderate sensation of constant pressure.Tension headaches can occur infrequently, episodically, or chronically, and can last from half an hour to one week. They have many triggers, including:Alcohol.Dehydration.Emotional stress.Mental or visual strain.Poor sleep.Strain of the head or neck.Sunlight.Some people may be more prone to tension-type headaches as a result of genetics, brain signals, or muscle tenderness. They also occur more frequently in certain groups, including:Those who experience migraines.Those who have depression.Those who have difficulty sleeping.Women.Young people.MigrainesMigraines are a type of recurrent headache on one side of your head. They’re often accompanied by other symptoms, such as nausea, noise and light sensitivity, and vision changes. They’re very common, affecting 1 in every 7 adults.Movement often makes migraines worse. Women are three times more likely to experience migraines than men. This is often due to hormonal changes as a result of the menstrual cycle.Trigeminal autonomic cephalgiasTrigeminal autonomic cephalgias (TACs) are rare headaches in which the pain happens on one side of your head. TACs can also cause swelling of the eyelids, nose congestion, and sweating. Types of TACs include:Cluster headache \u2014 The most common type of TAC and often the most severe type of primary headache. Cluster headaches are sudden, painful attacks that recur at the same time across several weeks, typically called a \u201ccluster period\u201d or series of attacks, and occur up to eight times a day. The pain is often felt behind the eye.Hemicrania continua \u2014 Rare headache that never fully goes away.Paroxysmal hemicrania \u2014 Rare headache with short-lasting attacks of severe head pain accompanied by autonomic symptoms, which respond completely to indomethacin.Probable TACs \u2014 Headache disorders that closely resemble TAC syndromes but don’t fully meet all of the diagnostic criteria.Short-lasting unilateral neuralgiform headache attacks (SUNCT) \u2014 Rare headache disorder marked by very brief, frequent episodes of head pain accompanied by prominent eye redness and tearing on the same side.Other primary headache conditionsThese headaches don’t fit into the other primary headache categories above and can be difficult to diagnose.Secondary headachesSecondary headaches occur as a result or symptom of another medical condition affecting the brain by pressing or pulling on nerve endings. The causes of secondary headaches include:Brain trauma.Brain tumors.High blood pressure.Infections.Major changes in routine or lifestyle.Seizures.Strokes.Substance use or withdrawal.Neuropathy, facial pain, and other headachesThe third group of headaches results from nerve damage or encompasses headaches that don’t fall under the categories of primary or secondary.Headaches may also be a side effect of “long COVID.” This is a collection of symptoms that persists after a SARS-CoV-2 infection, the virus that causes COVID-19.Many people with post-COVID headache report the development of new headaches that persist for three months or longer. Or, if they had an existing headache disorder, it may get worse after infection.On rare occasions, headaches can be a sign of more serious conditions, such as:Aneurysm.Brain bleed.Brain tumor.Buildup of fluid or pressure inside the skull.Carbon monoxide poisoning.Infection.High blood pressure.Sleep apnea.Stroke.If you’re experiencing recurrent and severe headaches, your provider may run tests to eliminate these conditions.What Causes Headaches?Most headaches occur when pain-sensitive neurons in your brain respond to triggers, environmental factors, or body signals. The neurons send signals to your brain, which feels like pain in the head, even when the problem is elsewhere in your body.Many different factors can trigger headaches, including:Alcohol or smoking.Anxiety or depression.Dehydration.Diet changes.Eating certain foods.Genetics.Head injury.Hormones.Lack of sleep.Physical or emotional stress.Weather changes.When Should You Talk to Your Doctor About Headaches?Sometimes headaches can be a sign of more serious health conditions. Talk to your doctor right away if you are experiencing any of the following:Balance loss.Body weakness.Confusion.Difficulty moving your arms or legs.Fever.Headache after a head injury.History of cancer or HIV.Loss of consciousness.Memory loss.Nausea.Sensation loss.Seizures.Severe headache in one eye (with redness in that eye).Slurred speech.Stiff neck.Sudden and explosive headache.Vision changes.VomitingYour headache is getting progressively worse and interfering with your ability to function.How Are Headaches Diagnosed and Treated?If you experience frequent or recurrent headaches that disrupt your lifestyle, your provider will review your medical history. They may do tests to determine a specific cause for your headaches, including:Blood or urine tests.CT scan.Electroencephalogram (EEG).MRI.You may want to keep a record of your headache frequency, duration, and triggers. This can help your doctor find the cause of your headaches and make a diagnosis. You should note the time, intensity, duration, symptoms, and environmental factors, such as:Activities you were doing.Emotional state.Foods and drinks consumed that day.Health conditions.Medicines taken.Quality and length of the previous night\u2019s sleep.Weather changes.You can treat some headaches with over-the-counter (OTC) medications like acetaminophen, aspirin, or ibuprofen. But if you rely on these medications for headache relief more than three days a week, you should talk to your provider.Other types of headaches may require prescription medications.You can also try to treat headaches at home as soon as you begin having symptoms. Examples of home remedies include:Drinking water (especially if you’ve vomited).Placing a cool compress on your head.Relaxing and resting in a dark, quiet room.What Can You Do to Prevent Headaches?Certain lifestyle changes, such as getting regular exercise and eating a healthy diet, can help prevent headaches.Practicing good sleep hygiene can also decrease the chances of developing a headache. Many people experience headaches as a result of getting too little or too much sleep at night.Avoiding known headache triggers, such as certain foods or beverages, may also prevent headaches. To figure out your environmental triggers, consider keeping a headache journal. It can help you and your provider notice patterns.Your provider may also prescribe medications to manage your headaches. If you use prescription medications to manage a headache condition, it’s important to take them as prescribed. Regular overuse of prescribed or OTC medications can actually worsen or cause new headache symptoms.If you’re experiencing headaches as a result of elevated levels of stress or emotional disturbances, talking to a licensed mental health professional may help. Some people also find relief through meditation, biofeedback, and other relaxation training techniques.SourcesWorld Health Organization. Headache disorders: How common are headaches? Accessed June 2026. https:\/\/www.who.int\/news-room\/questions-and-answers\/item\/headache-disorders-how-common-are-headaches. Link.\u00a0National Institutes of Health. Headache. Accessed June 2026. https:\/\/www.ninds.nih.gov\/health-information\/disorders\/headache. Link.Medline Plus: Headache. Accessed June 2026. https:\/\/medlineplus.gov\/ency\/article\/003024.htm. Link.National Headache Foundation. Headache: Understanding What You Need to Know. Accessed June 2026. https:\/\/headaches.org\/resources\/post-covid-headache\/. 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