Symptomatic medication is taken at the time of the headache to treat the symptoms, and prophylactic medication is taken on a daily basis to prevent headaches from occurring. Excessive consumption of analgesics can result in drug rebound headache, a condition in which high levels of the drug in the patient's system actually cause daily headaches. In most cases, patients with rebound headaches, particularly those taking medication on a prophylactic basis, experience improvement when their daily medications are stopped, enabling them to obtain greater relief through symptomatic treatment. Not all headaches require medical treatment. Those resulting from periodic tension or poor eating habits usually can be dealt with successfully through lifestyle adjustments and occasional symptomatic treatment.
Some headaches indicate a more serious underlying condition requiring prompt attention, however.
Generally, these secondary headaches are severe, sudden, and debilitating. See our full sections on Migraines , Tension Headache , Cluster and Other Headaches and their respective treatments. Also, visit our section on natural medicine for some alternative treatment suggestions. Join a live chat or threaded forum. For more women's health news, click here .