Question:

What is the most likely cause of occasional severe headaches?

Answer:

Stress and muscle tension account for the majority of headaches, although your diet can also contribute to headaches. Food such as caffeine, chocolate, cheeses, and nuts can cause headaches in some people. See headache and tension headache.

In some cases a severe headache may be a migraine. Signs of a migraine include one-sided headache, throbbing, sensitivity to light or sound, and nausea or vomiting. Some people who get migraines have a sensory or visual change (called an aura) before the headache develops.

Some headaches may be a combination of tension and migraine headaches.