Headaches are an annoying fact of life for most of us: More than 80 percent of women suffer from the tension variety, and nearly one in 20 adults experiences daily headaches, according to the World Health Organization. Unfortunately, women are especially vulnerable. Nearly three times more women than men experience migraines, which are often related to hormonal changes associated with menstruation or pregnancy.

For some, headaches are just a nuisance, but for others they’re debilitating. According to a study sponsored by the National Headache Foundation, more than 25 percent of migraine sufferers missed at least one day of work over the past three months, and nearly 3 in 10 require bed rest when a headache strikes. Fortunately, a growing number of safe and effective treatments are easing the pain for many sufferers.