Norman Harden is a neurologist in charge of the Center for Pain Studies at the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago. He provides the following answer.



continuum of benign recurring headache
Image: American Council for Headache Education

In people who are prone to migraine, these headaches can be triggered by a multitude of causes, including diet, stress, lights, strong smells and other environmental conditions (either external or internal). Once the migraine process has started, it usually requires medication to stop the headache. There are many other specific, less common headache diagnoses, such as cluster headaches and neuralgia, or nerve damage headaches.

All of these headaches have specific treatments, both pharmacological and non-pharmacological (for instance, relaxation or biofeedback techniques). Additionally, there are new medications being developed on an almost monthly basis, all of which hold promise for treating these most painful of headaches. Anyone who suffers from headaches and who has given up on medical treatments should return to his or her family physician and inquire about the new prospects for substantial relief.