Important: This page is general information, not medical advice. It does not recommend or prescribe any treatment. Always consult your doctor or pharmacist before starting, stopping or changing any medicine.
About Headache
Almost everyone has had a headache. Headache is the most common form of pain. It's a major reason people miss days at work or school or visit the doctor.
The most common type of headache is a tension headache. Tension headaches are due to tight muscles in your shoulders, neck, scalp and jaw. They are often related to stress, depression or anxiety. You are more likely to get tension headaches if you work too much, don't get enough sleep, miss meals, or use alcohol.
Other common types of headaches include migraines, cluster headaches, and sinus headaches. Most people can feel much better by making lifestyle changes, learning ways to relax and taking pain relievers.
Not all headaches require a doctor's attention. But sometimes headaches warn of a more serious disorder. Let your health care provider know if you have sudden, severe headaches. Get medical help right away if you have a headache after a blow to your head, or if you have a headache along with a stiff neck, fever, confusion, loss of consciousness, or pain in the eye or ear.
It sits within Brain and Nerves and Symptoms.
The lead U.S. institute for this subject is the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.
When to speak to someone. Reading about a topic cannot tell you whether it applies to you. Speak to a doctor or pharmacist if symptoms are severe, sudden, getting worse, or simply not going away — and seek emergency care immediately for chest pain, breathing difficulty, sudden weakness or confusion, or a serious allergic reaction.
Research on Headache
2,545 studies areregistered for this condition on ClinicalTrials.gov, the U.S. National Library of Medicine's public registry. A selection is below — the links go straight to the registry entry, not to a summary of ours.
What a registered study does and does not mean. Registration means a study exists and has been declared publicly. It says nothing about whether the treatment being tested works, is safe, or is available to you. Many studies find no benefit — that is what research is for. Never seek out an experimental treatment on the strength of a registry entry alone.
Research currently under way
- Comparative Effectiveness of Migraine Preventive Medications: The APT Comparison StudyMayo Clinic
- Study to Assess Adverse Events and Disease Activity of Oral Ubrogepant Tablets for the Acute Treatment of Migraine in Children and Adolescents (Ages 6-17)AbbVie
- A Study to Learn About the Study Medicine Called Rimegepant in Adolescents With Frequent MigrainePfizer
- A Study to Evaluate the Efficacy and Safety of Elismetrep (K-304) in the Acute Treatment of MigraineKallyope Inc.
- Long-term Safety Study of Rimegepant in Pediatric Subjects for the Acute Treatment of MigrainePfizer
- Migraine Headaches Elimination With Patent Foramen Ovale-Directed TherapyColumbia University
Research already completed
- Nebulized Dexmedetomidine or Lidocaine for Treatment of Post Dural Puncture Headache in Parturients Undergoing Elective Cesarean Section Under Spinal AnesthesiaMinia University
- Intervention for Sleep and Pain in Youth: A Randomized Controlled TrialSeattle Children's Hospital
- Effectiveness of Manual Lymphatic Drainage in the Physiotherapeutic Treatment of MigraineCamilo Jose Cela University
Study data from ClinicalTrials.gov, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine. Retrieved 2026-07-30. Registry entries are supplied by study sponsors and investigators; ClinicalTrials.gov does not verify their scientific validity. PocketsInfo is not affiliated with, and not endorsed by, the NLM or the NIH.
Where to read more
Rather than paraphrase, we point you to the primary sources. Every link below is to a government health agency, a national institute or a recognised medical body — grouped by what you are trying to find out.
Start Here
Symptoms
- Headaches: Treatment Depends on Your Diagnosis and SymptomsMayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research
Diagnosis and Tests
- Do I Need an MRI for My Migraine?American Migraine Foundation
- HeadachesAmerican Academy of Family Physicians
- When to Go to the Emergency Room for a Headache or MigraineAmerican Migraine Foundation
Treatments and Therapies
- Acute Therapy: Why Not Over-The-Counter or Other Nonspecific Options?American Migraine Foundation
- Headaches: What You Need to KnowNational Center for Complementary and Integrative Health
Prevention and Risk Factors
- Headaches: Reduce Stress to Prevent the PainMayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research
Living With
- Headache Hygiene -- What Is It?American Migraine Foundation
- Low-Tyramine Diet for Individuals with Headache or MigraineNational Headache Foundation
- Tension-Type Headaches: Self-Care Measures for ReliefMayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research
Clinical Trials
- ClinicalTrials.gov: Cluster HeadacheNational Institutes of Health
- ClinicalTrials.gov: HeadacheNational Institutes of Health
- ClinicalTrials.gov: Headache DisordersNational Institutes of Health
- ClinicalTrials.gov: Tension HeadacheNational Institutes of Health
- ClinicalTrials.gov: Tension-Type HeadacheNational Institutes of Health
Medical subject headings
Clinicians and researchers index this subject under Headache, Headache Disorders. These are the terms to use when searching medical literature.
This page is built from the MedlinePlus health topic record for Headache, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine (NLM), National Institutes of Health. Information is from MedlinePlus.gov. PocketsInfo is not affiliated with, and is not endorsed by, the NLM or the NIH. Retrieved 30 July 2026.