1. A Visual Guide to Migraine Headaches Slideshow Pictures
2. Headache and Migraine Triggers Slideshow Pictures
3. Take the Migraines Quiz

Medical Author:

Mark Langdorf, MD

Coauthor:

Aaron Bright, MD

Medical Editor:

John P. Cunha, DO, FACOEP

John P. Cunha, DO, FACOEP

John P. Cunha, DO, is a U.S. board-certified Emergency Medicine Physician. Dr. Cunha's educational background includes a BS in Biology from Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey, and a DO from the Kansas City University of Medicine and Biosciences in Kansas City, MO. He completed residency training in Emergency Medicine at Newark Beth Israel Medical Center in Newark, New Jersey.

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Headaches can be annoying and debilitating. Make an effort to identify any behaviors that may trigger or contribute to your headache pattern.

• Any pain medication taken on a long-term basis can cause headache when suddenly stopped. This is called rebound or withdrawal headache. If you take more medication to relieve the pain, the headache-rebound-headache cycle continues.
• Caffeine withdrawal can cause mild headache. Options are to avoid caffeine entirely or to continue moderate use to avoid withdrawal. If you choose to stop chronic caffeine use and get caffeine withdrawal headaches, they should last no more than a few days.
• Alcohol use can cause headache and dehydration especially after consumption of large quantities (binge drinking).
• Nicotine in tobacco products has been shown to cause headache. Avoiding these products may decrease the number of headaches as well as greatly improve overall health.
• For stress-induced headache various forms of stress reduction can be helpful as can biofeedback and meditation.

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