Anyone who has ever suffered from a headache or a migraine knows just how painful and debilitating they can be. While there aren’t surefire cures for every kind of headache, it can be worth your while to get yours checked out by a doctor to see what options are out there and what treatments may help alleviate your pain. Whether treating yourself at home or getting help from a medical professional, there’s no sense in spending any more time than you have to suffering with headaches.

The first step in getting help for your headaches is figuring out just what kind of headaches you’re suffering from in the first place. There are five main types of headaches: migraine, sinus, cluster, tension and rebound. Each of these has its own causes and its own specific remedies. You may not be able to accurately ascertain which of these you have on your own, so even if you don’t want to take medications it can be useful to see a doctor for assistance.

Once you know what kind of headaches you have, you can choose what kind of treatment options you’d like to pursue. If you’re set on treating yourself at home, you can take the standard ibuprofen and aspirin which can help reduce the pain and pressure in your head. It can also make a big difference to change your environment, darkening the shades, cooling the room and ensuring that everything is quiet. Sometimes, all it takes is a rest in a relaxing room to ease the worst parts of a headache. Additionally, you might want to try massage or aromatherapy to further relax yourself and put the kibosh on that headache.

If your headaches are severe and often enough to warrant medication, there are a number of options on the market today. These can include beta blockers, calcium channel blockers, antidepressants, anticonvulsants and serotonin antagonists, depending on the type of headaches you have and your personal health needs. These medications are started in low doses and you can expect to slow or stop your consumption of them once your headaches are under control.

No matter how you choose to treat your headaches, remember that it’s always good to consult with a doctor first. Sometimes headaches can be an indicators for far more serious and potentially life-threatening conditions and it never hurts to be safe rather than sorry when it comes to your health.