What your headache is telling you
Chocolate, wine or sex could be to blame for your headaches.
Jan 18, 2026
Written byRose Hayes, MA, RN
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About half of all Americans experience a headache at least once a month. Whether it’s a migraine or a tension headache, the symptoms can interfere with your life, taking your time away from the things that matter most.
“To avoid a serious headache, try to treat the pain as soon as you feel it coming on,” says Lisa Nocera MD, an anesthesiologist and pain specialist at St. Mary Medical Center in Langhorne, Pennsylvania. “The longer you let the pain build, the harder it will be to get your headache under control.”
Here’s what your headache could be telling you, plus tips for easing the pain.
Medically reviewed in March 2020.