All it feels like is someone is hammering against the inside of your skull. The pain may feel the same, but there are many different reasons why we get them.

General headaches are some of the most common. These dull-feeling headaches can be brought on by things such as stress, lack of sleep, environmental factors such as smoke and pollution, hormonal changes, certain medications, too much or too little caffeine, and more. These types of headaches can be easily treated with over-the-counter medication, and are temporary. Other types of common headaches include sinus, tension and migraines. Persistent headaches should be brought to a doctor’s attention for treatment.

Migraine symptoms include:

• headache pain that can be one sided or whole head
• nausea/vomiting
• sensitivity to light
• sensitivity to sound
• feelings of unusual irritability

The causes of another type of headache, injury-related headaches, are usually very obvious. If you have a loss of consciousness, disorientation, or severe pain, see a doctor immediately. In general, if your headache pain is severe, you should seek medical treatment as it could be a sign of a more serious cause.

Click here to learn more about neurology care at Westfields Hospital.