What's causing your headaches and how stopping them means understanding them

Woman with a headache. (Courtesy)

Headaches may have been a particular problem this year. In April 2020, there was a spike in Google searches for the tension variety, while a May survey by the Migraine Trust showed 58 per cent of sufferers reported theirs had been worse during lockdown.

This rise may have been connected to stress and a change in routine, including different diets and more alcohol – but we don’t tend to think about the cause. Instead, we take painkillers and hope they go away. But headaches can have different triggers and will often keep recurring unless you work out why you get them and change your behaviour.