Researchers say headaches are the most common health complaint in the U.S. There are several different kinds. Here are some of the most common:

Tension Headache

Tension headaches are the most common type of headache. The National Headache Foundation estimates 78 percent of Americans will get a tension headache at some point in their lives. Patients describe a dull, non-throbbing type of pressing pain, usually on both sides of the head. Sometimes the pain feels like a "vice grip" being tightened on the head. Symptoms usually come on gradually and last from several hours to several days. Tension headaches can be chronic (occurring 15 or more days a month).

Migraine

A migraine is a type of headache that causes severe, throbbing pain (usually on one side of the head), nausea and sensitivity to light and sounds. Less than one-third of patients experience a "warning" of an impending migraine, called an aura. Some signs of an aura are seeing flashes of light or zigzag lines, blind spots in vision and numbness and tingling in the arm or face. About 29.5 million Americans get migraines. It's three times more common in women than in men.

Cluster Headache

A cluster headache is the name used to refer to a group or "cluster" of headaches that cause severe pain or a burning sensation around one eye. Some people say the pain feels like being stabbed in the eye with a hot poker. Patients may also experience tearing, nasal congestion and facial flushing on the side of the face affected by the headache. The severe pain usually lasts 30 to 45 minutes, but the headache can last for several hours. Symptoms often recur the same day. The National Headache Foundation estimates one million Americans experience cluster headaches. About 90 percent of patients are male. A cluster period can last for weeks to months, during which patients get one to four headaches a day.

Rebound Headaches

Rebound headaches are persistent, recurring headaches. The pain often starts upon waking and is worse at the onset and when medication begins to wear off. Patients may also experience nausea, anxiety, irritability, restlessness, problems with memory and concentration, sleeping difficulties and depression. The most common cause of rebound headaches is overuse of headache medication. Taking high doses of headache or pain medication, or taking the pills too often, causes the body to adapt to the drugs, limiting the effectiveness of the medication. More pain medication is needed to take care of the pain, leading to a cycle of overuse.

Self-treatment for a Headache

Over-the-counter headache medications can be very effective for many patients. Susan Broner, M.D., a Neurologist with St. Luke's-Roosevelt Hospital Center, says patients with occasional mild to moderate types of headache may benefit from acetaminophen or ibuprofen. However, these are short-acting medications whose effects last only a few hours. If longer pain relief is needed, choose naproxen sodium, which lasts up to 12 hours. Patients should be careful to avoid taking too much medication for headache pain, because that can lead to the development of a rebound headache.

People who have migraine symptoms or those with recurring or more severe symptoms should seek advice from a physician to ensure proper diagnosis and treatment. A physician may have the patient keep a headache diary, in which a patient keeps a record of headache symptoms and potential triggers (like menstrual cycle, sleep and foods). If certain things are associated with the headache, patients may be advised to avoid those triggers. Some patients may require prescription treatments for their headaches.

If headaches continue to persist, or if the pain is unusual or severe, the symptoms should be reported to a physician because these may be signs of a more serious underlying medical problem, like meningitis or stroke.

For general information on headaches and headache management:

American Headache Society

National Headache Foundation

National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke