What's causing your migraine?

by ROSALIND RYAN, femail.co.uk

Most of us have experienced a headache or migraine at some point in our lives. In fact, only two per cent of the population have never had one.

But far from being a mild complaint, people who suffer from them regularly often find them highly disruptive to their lives.

The two most common types of headaches are tension headaches and migraines. Most people are more susceptible to one type than another.

But both these kinds of headaches can be triggered by a variety of causes - from tight neck and shoulder muscles, stress and too much alcohol to not enough sleep and certain chemicals in foods. Your headache could even be caused by taking too many painkillers.

Getting to the root of what is causing your headache could help you prevent or treat it more swiftly.

Here is the femail.co.uk guide to the most common types of headaches and their triggers.

First read our guide to the two main types of headache. Then click on the links at the bottom of the page to find out what may be triggering them.

Migraine headaches

Around 20 per cent of all headaches are migraines. The MAA says twice as many women as men suffer from migraine, probably because hormones can be a trigger.

Migraines can appear with or without an aura. An aura is when the sufferer sees flashing lights, blind spots or zigzag patterns around 15 minutes to one hour before the headache appears. Around 15 per cent of migraine sufferers experience auras.

Sufferers describe the pain as more intense than a normal headache, usually felt as a pulsating pain on one side of the head. Other symptoms include sensitivity to light and sound, and feeling sick, or actually being sick.

Symptoms may last for several days, but every sufferer (known as a migraineur) will experience different symptoms for different periods of time. Not all migraines are the same, even in the same person.

Treatments include over-the-counter painkillers or stronger painkillers prescribed by a doctor. If you suffer from severe and frequent migraines, your doctor may diagnose preventative painkillers, commonly known as beta blockers.

Tension headaches

Tension headaches are the most common type of headache. Experts say around 70 per cent of headaches are tension headaches.

The Migraine Action Association (MAA) says tension headaches are usually brought on by stress and/or depression. Stress can make your head, neck and shoulder muscles contract, causing the headache.

Symptoms will feel like a tight band of pressure around the head or a pressing weight on the head, that is usually relieved by taking

painkillers, although the headache can last for several days.

Massage and relaxation therapies can also help the muscles relax, relieving the headache.

Click on the links below to discover common triggers for migraines and ordinary headaches.