Headaches have occured to the vast majority of people at one point or another in their lives.  These headaches can range from mild irritations to a debilitating pain crisis that demands immediate treatment.  Headaches are widely researched and treated in the medical community, but the exact causes remain a mystery.  The medical community defines headaches in three basic categories.  Primary headaches are by far the most common variety, while cluster and secondary headaches occur on a far rarer basis.  Most headaches have no life threatening significance, although secondary headaches can signal another problem at work in the brain. 

Most headaches fall into the category of primary headaches, and are typically treatable with simple over the counter medications.  Ibuprofen and Aleve are usually effective headache treatments for problems involving primary headaches.  More serious headaches, like cluster headaches, demand specialized treatment.  Other effective treatments for headaches include therapeutic measures such as biofeedback, massage, and psychotherapy.  These are good ways to prevent headaches prior to their onset.  The majority of headaches begin with stress related causes, such as emotional or physical strains. 

Several hours of physical exertion can easily bring on a stress related headache.  The muscles in the skull tend to contract, causing added stress that results in pain.  Headache treatment is fairly simple, but prevention is a more effective means of reducing headache pain.  Preventing headache pain usually means examining the situations that tend to exacerbate the problem.  If emotionally stressful situations are bringing on the pain, some sort of stress management is most likely in order.  Hours of physical labor should be punctuated with breaks to prevent the outbreak of stress related headaches.

Frequent headaches that do not abate, or occur on a seemingly random basis may be a sign of a more serious condition.  Headache treatment in these situations may revolve around diagnosing a more serious issue.  Headaches that occur frequently and seemingly without provocation can be a sign of more serious neurological issues.  This kind of headache, known as a secondary headache, can signify internal bleeding, tumor growth, or chemical imbalances.  It is important to see a specialist whenever these kinds of problems present on a fairly regular basis.  Prompt care can prevent the root cause of secondary headaches from becoming more serious.