Migraine headaches aren't reserved for the stressed-out adults of the world. Kids are susceptible to the severe headaches as well. Recent research shows that overweight children have more frequent and more severe migraine headaches.

The study found that 34.1% of the patients at seven pediatric headache centers were overweight or at risk of becoming overweight. The researchers -- who analyzed data several times over a six-month period -- found a link between weight and migraine headaches.

Losing excess weight can help children who suffer from migraines. If you have a child who is overweight or obese, there are many things you can do to help them achieve a healthy weight.

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Have you flown the friendly skies recently? For many people, flying is a headache... quite literally.

An Israeli study of 906 people found that 6% report getting headaches when they travel by airplane. Based on that statistic and a few flight numbers/occupancy assumptions, researchers estimate that this translates into more than 100 million flight-induced headaches per year.

There are several things that could trigger a headache during air travel -- stress, pressure changes, poor air quality, and engine noise. (Not to mention noisy passengers!) To help manage air travel-related headaches, be sure to drink plenty of water (as dehydration can contribute to headaches), get up and walk around during long flights, bring books or music or anything else that will help you reduce stress, pack ear plugs if noise bothers you, and bring some over-the-counter pain relievers.

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It turns out that a set of bad hair extensions don't just damage your appearance -- they can affect how you feel and the health of your hair as well. Improperly applied hair extensions cause undue stress on your natural hair, essentially pulling, tugging, twisting, and weighting down your hair.

While some discomfort is expected when you get extensions put in, it shouldn't cause extreme pain. Extensions can cause the wearer to have headaches and pain. In the most severe cases, bad extensions can cause the natural hair to pull out of the scalp which can lead to a permanent hair loss condition called traction alopecia.

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I always blame my headaches on food -- not enough food or too much of a certain food usually. Sugar definitely brings them on for me -- it's the reason I gave up sweets more than a year ago -- and sometimes, a snack full of protein helps them fade away. I've never given much thought to these three headache triggers, however. Real Simple magazine thinks they're worthy of a warning, though, so here they are.

• Ice Cream. Yep, I guess this makes sense. I just haven't ever had this type of headache last for very long. That's because it only lasts for about one minute, say the Real Simple folks. "Brain freeze" is caused when cold food touches the roof of your mouth and alters the blood flow in the brain or causes pain on a major nerve.
  
  
• Sex. It's not very common, but it's possible that sexual activity can trigger severe head pain. Usually nothing to worry about, you should see a doctor if the pain recurs.
  
  
• Secondary headaches. Also rare, these headaches are caused by a tumor or aneurysm. If your headaches worsen over time, see a doctor.
  
  

So, these three are possibilities. Think they're responsible for your headaches?

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Millions of women suffer from chronic headaches, with 90 percent of them experiencing migraines. As if that isn't difficult enough to deal with, a study showed that women with chronic headache were four times likelier to report symptoms of major depression than were those with episodic headache.

The women who reported the symptoms of major depression were three times more likely to have symptoms related to the headache, like low energy, trouble sleeping, nausea and other pains and problems. These painful physical symptoms could cause or provoke major depression, and depression can heighten pain perception.

While the cause of the link between headache and depression isn't entirely known, it is certain that one is related to the other, making the research and treatment of both all the more important.

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I've always been a bit of a wimp when it comes to headaches. But, until recently, I had never had a migraine. Just a few weeks ago I found myself dealing with the most painful headache I've ever had. I found a position -- half-sitting, half-laying down -- on the couch that was somewhat comfortable. I covered my eyes with a damp washcloth. And I just stayed put. I tried to turn the TV on so I'd at least have something to listen to, but if it was loud enough to hear it at all, it felt like it was booming in my ears. Even though the blinds were closed, every time I took that washcloth off my eyes, the light felt blinding. And every time I moved, I felt sick to my stomach. It was awful. I seriously sympathize with anyone who has migraines regularly.

A few months ago I wrote about natural treatments for migraines. (Maybe writing that post and saying I never had a migraine jinxed me... ya think?) Revolution Health has more ideas for managing migraines:

• OTC pain relievers may provide some relief; your doctor can also prescribe medications to help.
• Caffeine can constrict blood vessels and relieve some of the pressure, but don't go overboard -- too much caffeine can be a trigger for migraine headaches.
• Avoid foods containing tyramine. Tyramine is found in aged or fermented foods including some cheeses and wine.
• Visit a chiropractor. Some chiropractors believe that migraines are caused by a misalignment of the spine and that adjustments can minimize migraine frequency.
• Include magnesium-rich foods in your diet.
  
• Get a massage -- massage therapy has helped some migraine sufferers reduce the frequency of their headaches.

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Children may need medication for a variety of reasons -- high fevers, for one. Most of the time, their complaints can be handled through simple home remedies, a little rest, or a bandage and a kiss. But one mom wants to take the TLC a step further. She's created a placebo pill that parents can give to children to make them believe they're feeling better.

The pill is known as Obecalp (placebo spelled backward) and is a simple sugar pill that has the look and feel of medication. Jennifer Buettner, the mom behind Obecalp, created the pill for parents who want to help their kids feel better, but don't want to give them unnecessary medications.

The product is not without critics: "As a parent of three now grown children," said Franklin G. Miller, bioethicist at the National Institutes of Health, "I can't think of a single instance where I'd want to give a placebo." My concern is that by giving a placebo, parents might be teaching children that reaching for a pill bottle is the only way to feel better. We recently learned that over half of Americans are taking prescription drugs, do we really want to encourage the idea that health comes from a bottle?

Buettner says she expected controversy and is prepared for it. Would you ever use a placebo on your child?

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I can handle most things -- I once fell down a flight of stairs at work and toughed it out as best as I could for the rest of the day -- but headaches... well, they can bring me to my knees. And my headaches can't even be classified as migraines. So I can only imagine how painful and debilitating true migraine headaches can be.

If you suffer from migraine headaches, your doctor can prescribe medication to help alleviate the symptoms. But there are many things you can do to help manage the pain, too:

• Seek a calm environment. Soft, low lighting is your best bet when you feel a migraine coming on. Also, try massaging painful areas, using cold compresses, and drinking a caffeinated beverage.
  
• Sleep well. Poor sleep can trigger a migraine. Stick to a consistent bedtime schedule and help yourself wind down at the end of the day.
  
• Eat wisely. Eat healthful, regular meals. There are certain foods that can trigger migraines; try eliminating any foods you think might be causing problems for you.
  
• Exercise regularly. Exercise helps to reduce stress and just makes you feel better overall. But be sure to start slowly; vigorous exercise can trigger migraines for some people.
  
• Manage stress. A stressful life can trigger migraines. Try simplifying your schedule and asking for help if your need it.
  
• Keep a migraine diary. Keeping track of your headaches can help you recognize your own triggers and what methods help to minimize your pain.
  

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When my nephew was away at college he became very depressed. Frighteningly depressed. It took the whole family by surprise at first because we didn't really see it coming. He had friends, he had just switched his major to something that suited him much better. He had a great apartment and had just gotten a dog. It seemed like everything was going well for him. But then, wisely, he drove to his parent's house one night and told them he needed help. And he did. While he seemed fine over the phone, what the family didn't know was that hours away at school he wasn't seeing any of his friends, he wasn't going to classes, and he was too depressed to even let his dog outside much of the time. After his depression was out in the open we were all able to look back and see the signs that we missed. We thank goodness for the strength he had and for his ability to ask for help. And we've all kicked ourselves a bit for not seeing the red flags that were right in front of us. Had we seen those warning signs, we could have helped him earlier. Today my nephew is doing wonderfully; he's graduated from college and landed an awesome job. Managing his clinical depression is a part of his daily life; he understands his triggers and manages his symptoms well.

Studies show that 2 out of every 100 children and 8 out of every 100 adolescents struggle with depression. While full-blown depression usually starts in adulthood (as it did with my nephew), low-grade depression may start in childhood or teenage years. And it's important to recognize those signs and get help early on.

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You're head is pounding. Every little sound you hear seems to bounce around the inside of your skull like a duckpin bowling ball. You feel cranky, irritable, and a general malaise. You know why; it's a headache. But is it just a regular, run of the mill headache, or could it possibly be something more serious, like a migraine?

If you experience any of the following symptoms, according to WebMD, it may be the latter:

1. The pain in your head is moderate to severe

2. The headache is throbbing or pulsating on one side of your head

3. You feel nauseous and/or are vomiting

4. Your headache worsens during a workout

5. Light, noise, and sometimes smells bother you

Migraines, especially those with aura, are no joke. Apart from the incredible amount of discomfort they create, they can also be a sign of a more serious health issue, such as stroke risk. If you determine that the pain in your head isn't a passing and relatively benign headache, but is instead a migraine, a visit to the doctor is a must.

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If you suffer from frequent headaches, health experts recommend keeping a headache diary for three months. Finding out what triggers a headache can be tricky, especially if there are multiple causes. A headache diary can help you and your doctor find a pattern so that you can avoid triggers or seek preventative treatment.

Seventy five percent of people who suffer from frequent headaches named changing barometric pressure as a common trigger. Other triggers named included:

• cigarette smoke
• loud music
• time spent in front of a computer screen
• strong odors
• altitude changes
• bright or flickering lights
• stress
• not eating

You can't avoid the weather, but knowing what kinds of conditions cause your headaches can help you control them, so they don't control you.

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Did you drink too much green beer over the weekend? If so, I have a sneaking suspicion that you're not alone. You've probably heard of some crazy hangover "cures" at one time or another. A University of Michigan doctor has laid down the truth about hangover cures:

• Soda. Kind of true. The sugar and caffeine in soda may give you a temporary jolt of energy, but beware the later sugar crash.
• Greasy food. False. If eaten before drinking, food will act as a "soaker" and delay the absorption of alcohol. But as a hangover cure it doesn't do much of anything except maybe restore some of the salt and blood sugar you lost (but you can also restore that by much healthier means).
  
• Sports drinks. True. Electrolytes can be depleted by drinking alcohol so sports drinks are quite likely to make you feel a bit better.
• Ibuprofen. True. Be sure to take any painkiller with food and it's best not to take them with alcohol. The day after, ibuprofen or Tylenol may help your achy head and muscles.
  
• Coffee. False. Not the best idea, the caffeine will alleviate some symptoms but will make you more dehydrated.
• Orange juice. False. The sugar will temporarily boost your energy, but the vitamin C doesn't seem to have any effect on a hangover.
• Activated calcium carbonate. True. Found in Tums and some OTC hangover remedies, this will help neutralize stomach acids.
• Burnt toast. False. It's a complete old wives' tale. This will do nothing more than make your kitchen smell like burnt toast.
• Bananas. True. Eating a banana will help you restore some of the potassium you lost.
• Drinking more alcohol. False. It only delays the inevitable hangover.
• Water. True. Alcohol dehydrates you. Drinking water will help replenish your fluids.

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A headache can really put a damper on your day. Even when you're doing something fun or at a place where enjoyment is supposed to come effortlessly (I suppose Disney World would be a good example), a nagging headache seems to put the kibosh on your good time. So, what can be done to make it go away?

Well, according to a study published in Clinical Neuroscience, getting enough magnesium in your diet may be a good start. Apparently, some headaches may be caused by low serotonin levels, causing the blood vessels in the brain to become inflamed. Magnesium, so say researchers, helps regulate the dilation of blood vessels; which, in turn, may help alleviate, and reduce the continued occurrence of, headaches.

So, the next time you're at the Magic Kingdom, ask Mickey if he happens to have any black beans. I know cheese is more a mouse's thing, but black beans are very high in magnesium (1 cup has 120mg). If he doesn't have any, you can always resort to desperate measures and take some bites out of Cinderella's pumpkin coach, for a 1oz cup of pumpkin seeds has 151mg of magnesium.

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A bad headache is so hard to take. It's hard to see, to think straight, and to function when your head is pounding. You can find temporary relief in pain relievers, but you can fix your headache for good if you know what kind of headache it is and how to treat it.

Real Simple shares ways to treat three of the most common types of headaches, including stress, migraines, and sinus. Stress headaches are by far the most common and are often easily treated by eating a meal (skipping meals can cause headaches), massaging tense neck muscles, or by getting a good night's sleep. Treating migraines and sinus headaches is a little trickier, but in occasional cases you can prevent or even treat them without medication.

How do you deal with a bad headache?

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It was always my understanding that the whole "Not tonight, Honey. I have a headache" line was used as an excuse for someone to not have sex. However, a National Headache Foundation survey of more than 180 people revealed that 46 percent of respondents felt headaches because of sex.

Due to the fact that the people involved in the study all suffered from regular headaches (in fact, 96 percent of the them stated that just about anything seems to give them a headache), I suppose it shouldn't come as such a surprise that sex also had this affect. But, I'm not going to lie ... I'm still surprised.

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