According to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) and the American Council for Headache Education (ACHE),  headaches affect 30 million people in the US. In addition, they note that because of the growing trend towards self-care and the large number of readily accessible over-the-counter pain relievers, “Americans have a responsibility to examine facts about headaches and pain relievers.”

The problem is that the amount of information available is overwhelming, and much of it confusing and contradictory.  If that isn’t enough to discourage you from “examining the facts,” then what do you think about the fact that family physicians, internists, and other doctors are likely to offer different recommendations to the same patient?

Before considering treatment options, it is important to figure out what kind of headache you actually have. By completing this step, you will have a better understanding of what to expect in your conversation with your doctor about your diagnosis.

According to research reported by the Yale Medical Group, about 90% of headaches are either “tension,” “vascular (migraine),” or “cluster.” About 10% are called either traction or inflammatory; these headaches are related to symptoms of an illness.

To find out what kind of headaches you have, download our Headache and Migraine Survival guide here.