A headache is a common ailment that at least 7 out of 10 people experience each year. One experiences discomfort and pain in the head, neck, and the scalp. From mild to severe pain, a headache can become unbearable and disabling. It can also be a symptom of many underlying health issues or it may even be normal due to excessive stress and anxiety.

Headaches may occur frequently or occasionally but still, they are the most common disorder in the nervous system that afflicts half of the adult population in the country at least once a year. It is extremely annoying and painful; some pains are excruciating and feel like stabbings in the brain or poking around the eyes. Severe pains can even cause vomiting and nausea.

The key to getting rid of the ache is to identify the underlying cause; if it is due to anxiety and stress then a simple medicine will help get rid of it. Also, lifestyle changes can help ease the stress and anxiety levels. Keeping oneself happy and stress-free is of the utmost importance to stay healthy.

Causes
There are several causes of headaches classified as primary and secondary causes.

Primary Causes
Primary causes are not due to any underlying medical conditions. These headaches are due to some underlying processes in the brain. Examples of such headaches are a migraine, cluster, and anxiety or stress aches.

Secondary causes
These causes are due to some underlying medical conditions and include the following.

• Cervicogenic
  These occur when the brain discs degenerate and start pressing the spinal column resulting in severe aches in the head and neck.
• Brain tumor
  The presence of a tumor or any other extra tissue can cause aches in the head. As there is no much room in the skull for any extra tissue and when the skull builds up any such extra tissues it can create a compression in the brain leading to aches.
• Spinal aches
  This happens mainly after spinal anesthesia when the cerebrospinal fluids leaks and causes aches.
• Sinus aches
  When there is inflammation in the air filled cavities of the sinus membrane in the face, it causes pain and pressure leading to severe aches in the head.
• Post-traumatic aches
  After a person has undergone severe trauma in the head after a fatal accident or a fall from the stairs, can experience severe headaches in the head.
• Meningitis
  Any infection in the meninges that lines the skull and encloses the brain and spinal cord can cause severe aches in the head.
• Overuse of medicines
  Overuse of pain medications and then stopping them abruptly can cause severe head pains.

Symptoms
Symptoms depend on the underlying medical condition of the aches. Tension aches have symptoms like dull or aching pain, stiffness in the neck and shoulder, tenderness in the scalp and feeling of a pressure at the back or sides of the head, extreme sensitivity to light and sound, and a throbbing pain in the head. Migraine aches can lead to vomiting and nausea. Cluster aches can cause severe pain around the eyes.

Treatment
Treatment depends on the cause of the headaches. If it is caused due to some illness then treating the illness will help you get rid of the headaches. But fortunately, most of the headaches are not signs of an underlying medical condition and can be treated by over the counter medicines. Leading a stress-free life helps a lot in relieving aches and pains.