Headaches are a common condition that most people will experience many times during their lives. They are often described a throbbing, constant, sharp pain, or dull pressure in your head or face.

Headache pain results from signals interacting among your brain, blood vessels, and surrounding nerves. During a headache, multiple mechanisms activate specific nerves that affect muscles and blood vessels. These nerves send pain signals to your brain, causing a headache.

If your headaches are interfering with your daily functioning or affecting your mood, it’s important to talk to your family doctor or health care provider. If possible, try to keep a headache journal and record how you feel when you’re experiencing a headache. This information can be helpful when talking to your health care provider.