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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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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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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The Norwegian National Headache Center found that people with high blood pressure were less likely to have migraine headaches. Previously, it was believed that high blood pressure was a causative factor for migraine headaches, but research shows otherwise.

The study followed more than 50,000 adults and included information on headache frequency, use of blood pressure medication, and blood pressure readings. People with the highest pulse pressure had up to 50% fewer headaches.

Knowing that high blood pressure doesn't cause migraines is a good thing -- it leads researchers closer to better understanding painful migraine headaches. Also, blood pressure medication is sometimes prescribed for migraines and this study may prove that is unnecessary or ineffective. However, it's clearly not a reason to stop treating high blood pressure. As my grandmother used to say, "don't trade one evil for another." High blood pressure is a dangerous condition that increases your risk of heart disease, stroke, kidney failure, and can even lead to reduced function later in life.

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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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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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Head hurt? Is it a passing headache, or is it a migraine? And, if it's the latter, is it related to your heart? If you thought it wasn't, you may want to think again.

A Harvard research study revealed that migraines can signal an impending heart attack in men. Unlike some studies that are based on sample sizes as large as a baseball team roster and take place for about the length of two Led Zeppelin songs, this particular study followed 20,000 men over 15 years. The resulting information showed that migraines sufferers are 42 percent more prone to heart attack than those who do not experience headaches of this kind.

Migraines have also been linked to high cholesterol, hypertension, and inflammation. Add heart attack to that list, and just thinking about it can give you a headache. Doctors suggest that if you suffer from migraines, have your cholesterol, blood pressure and C-reactive protein tested.

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Do you ever experience migraine "auras?" Seeing black spots, flashing lights, and having distorted vision occurs in fifteen percent of migraine sufferers, something that may be more dangerous than first thought.

Researchers from the University of Maryland School of Medicine discovered that young women that experience these "auras" have a fifty percent greater chance of suffering an ischemic stroke than those who don't have these symptoms with their migraine headaches.

If you are a migraine sufferer and do experience these "auras," it is important that you speak with your doctor about it if you haven't already. Ischemic stroke is caused by a blood clot in an artery to the brain, so clearly this is not something you want to ignore.

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While we've covered migraine treatment before, here are 7 different tips for easing the pain and preventing those headaches altogether. Whether you are searching for a natural solution to migraine management or just looking to change your routine to help combat the nuisance, these suggestions may help if you suffer regularly.

One of the very best tips on the list rings true for not only big headaches, but all kinds of biological regularities. Sticking to a schedule every day sets your internal clock. Everything from your metabolism to blood pressure gets affected by when you start your day. So when somebody sleeps in, for example, they are scrambling that internal clock mechanism. Voila, migraine!

Magnesium is another important aspect of easing migraines. If some people don't get enough, headaches can set in. Try taking 200 milligrams a day over the course of a couple months to see if it alleviates migraine frequency. Of course, check with your doctor first to make sure this supplement is okay! If you want to learn more, the other tips can be found over here.

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Suffer from migraines? That's one of the most debilitating events that happens on such a frequent basis, and it can be disabling for many of us. New research states that those type of painful headaches may actually be due to pain sensory information processing in the brain.

That processing is a tad different in those who suffer from migraines compared to those that do not.

MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) scans were used to study the difference in brain patterns in those that experiences migraine headaches and those that did not, according to Harvard researchers. One thing that was not clear, however, was if migraines cause the brain changes or if the brain differences cause migraines.

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Researchers reported this week that a migraine headache pill may be able to assist alcoholics in curbing their drinking habits without going into full detox mode using other methods that can be hit-or-miss.

For those suffering from alcoholism and have had no luck with quitting cold turkey (or otherwise detoxing yourself), this may hold new hope if in fact it works.

Topamax, a drug used to treat migraine headaches, was tied to alcoholics who quit drinking for seven weeks or more -- to the tune of 15 percent of all alcoholic subjects that participated in the study. The downside is that the drug costs an estimated $350 per month plus the costs of doctor's visits.

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It's hard to even think straight when your head is pounding, let alone concentrate on an important meeting or chase your kids around. Sure, you can take a pain reliever, but there are some things you can do throughout your day to avoid getting a headache in the first place. An ounce of prevention will keep your head pain-free, and many of these tips will help boost your general energy level as well. Some of my favorites include:

• Get up at the same time every day. Sleeping in messes with your body's natural rhythms.
• If you drink coffee, drink your coffee. Skipping it will leave you vulnerable to pain.
• Drink plenty of water. Dehydration causes headaches, though no one is sure why.
• Exercise -- a quick cure-all for stress, fatigue, and general aches and pains.
• Sit up straight; muscle tension will quickly lead to a headache.

Other tips include avoiding nitrates, easing into your bedtime routine, and taking a time-out when stress gets too high. What kinds of things work for you to stave off a headache?

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Tension headaches are generally a complete pain in the, well, head. But, do you know the difference between a headache, a tension headache and a migraine headache? There are different treatments for each, according to some.

If you have a tension headache, you may experience a painful pressure across the forehead instead of to the sides of the head. Feel that sharp pain instead of gradual, consistent pain? That's a sign of a tension headache.

Poor posture, stress and even eyestrain can cause tension headaches, so a reminder here is prudent since so many of us work at a computer all day long: sit straight up (looking at your computer monitor), take visual breaks frequently and move during the day (don't sit in one place). If you still have a tension headache, I've found ibuprofen to work great, but other painkillers may do just as well (like acetaminophen).

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Nothing will ruin a good day like a terrible headache -- it's especially annoying to wake up and have to start your day with a throbbing skull. Often these types of headaches are the result of muscle strain from sleeping in a funny position. This very common type of head pain, which occurs because of muscle-or eye-strain, stress or being overly tired, is called a tension headache.

There are other varieties of headaches though, and these include sinus headaches, which usually accompany a cold and can be felt at the front of the head, the ice-pick headache, which comes on fast, is localized to one area and only lasts 20 or 30 minutes and the granddaddy of them all -- the migraine. Migraine pain can be severe and affect work and home life. Lasting from a few hours to a few days, those who suffer from migraines may also experience nausea and blurred vision.

If you suffer from any of these headache varieties learn ways to prevent and treat them here.

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